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Humus has a characteristic black or dark brown color and is an accumulation of organic carbon. Besides the three major soil horizons of (A) surface/topsoil, (B) subsoil, and (C) substratum, some soils have an organic horizon (O) on the very surface. Hard bedrock (R) is not in a strict sense soil.
The term humus form is not the same as the term humus. Forest humus form describes the various arrangement of organic and mineral horizons at the top of soil profiles. [ 1 ] It can be composed entirely of organic horizons, meaning an absence of the mineral horizon. [ 2 ]
The term comes from humus, which in turn comes from the Latin word humus, meaning "soil, earth". [1] Humic substances represent the major part of organic matter in soil , peat , coal , and sediments , and are important components of dissolved natural organic matter (NOM) in lakes (especially dystrophic lakes ), rivers, and sea water .
Mor humus is a form of forest floor humus occurring mostly in coniferous forests. [1] Mor humus consists of evergreen needles and woody debris that litter the forest floor. This litter is slow to decompose , in part due to their chemical composition (low pH, low nutrient content), but also because of the generally cool and wet conditions where ...
Vermicast (also called worm castings, [a] worm humus, worm poop, worm manure, or worm faeces) is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by earthworms. [1] These excreta have been shown to contain reduced levels of contaminants and a higher saturation of nutrients than the organic materials before vermicomposting.
3. The ρ follows the suffix that indicates the relict features; if this is true for more than one suffix, each one is followed by the ρ. 4. If two suffixes belong to the same soil-forming process, they follow each other immediately; in the combination of t and n, the t is written first; rules 1, 2 and 3 have to be followed, if applicable.
Moder humus form may include only the Ah horizon or ectorganic horizons below end- organic horizons. [2] Fine humus elements have permeated the mineral soil on this horizon. Although soil animals may carry organic matter into the upper region of this horizon, this will only happen over a short distance. [2]
For instance, sheep manure is high in nitrogen and potash, while pig manure is relatively low in both. Horses mainly eat grass and a few weeds, so horse manure can contain grass and weed seeds, because horses do not digest seeds as cattle do. Cattle manure is a good source of nitrogen as well as organic carbon. [3]