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In classical [1] soil science, humus is the dark organic matter in soil that is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter. It is a kind of soil organic matter. It is rich in nutrients and retains moisture in the soil. Humus is the Latin word for "earth" or "ground". [2]
Decomposition is largely inhibited during advanced decay due to the loss of readily available cadaveric material. [15] Insect activity is also reduced during this stage. [ 16 ] When the carcass is located on soil, the area surrounding it will show evidence of vegetation death. [ 15 ]
In terrestrial environments, decomposition happens mainly in or on soil, and decomposers' activities lead to increased soil fertility. [7] The main nutrients plants have to derive from soils are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and all three have to be available in forms that are accessible to and absorbable by the plants.
Ants create nests, making the soil more porous and transporting nutrients to different areas of the compost. [3] Beetles as grubs feed on decaying vegetables. [3] Earthworms ingest partly composted material and excrete worm castings, [3] making nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium available to plants. [3]
When the nights are a little cooler, the soil is moist and there is so much decaying material like roots and heavy wood mulch, these nasty fungi get my phone ringing. Stinkhorns occur naturally ...
Soil organic matter (SOM) is the organic matter component of soil, consisting of plant and animal detritus at various stages of decomposition, cells and tissues of soil microbes, and substances that soil microbes synthesize.
In recent years, the word detritus has also come to be used with aquariums (the word "aquarium" is a general term for any installation for keeping aquatic animals). When animals such as fish are kept in an aquarium, they produce substances such as excreta, mucus, and dead skin cast off during moulting. These substances naturally generate ...
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