The Roles Of Soil Organic Matter In Maintaining A Good Soil Health 1

ASSIGNMENT 2:
The roles of soil organic matter in
maintaining a good soil health

LECTURER: Dr. Samsuri Bin Abd. Wahid

NAME: Khairul Amirin Bin Khairudin

MATRIC NO: 192528
 The Roles Of Soil Organic Matter In Maintaining A Good Soil Health 2

Introduction:
Soils are classified as mineral or organic based on organic matter content. Mineral soils consti
tute the majority of grown land in the world and may produce organic matter from traces of u
p to 30%.

Naturally, organic soils are rich in organic matter largely because of nature. Although they co
ntain more than 30 percent organic matter, they are not essential soils for development precise
ly for this reason.

This soil study focuses on the origins of organic matter in soil cultivation. In short, it
discusses the circumstances and the negative results of organic matter. The newsletter then
proceeds to more proactive solutions. They examine a "package" of practices in order to show
how they can increase the content of organic matter and discuss land and crop benefits.

Figure 1
The soil organic matter is a material originally produced by living organisms (plants or
animals) which has been returned to the soil and has been decomposed (Plate 1). This
consists, at any point, of a variety of materials, from plants and animals ' original tissues to
the significantly decomposed material mix known as humus (Figure 1).
Most organic soil is derived from tissue of the plant. Residues of plants contain 60%-90%
humidity. The remaining dry matter is made up of carbon (C), oxygen, hydrogen (H) and
small amounts of sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), phosphore (P). Such nutrients are very important
for soil fertility control, although they may be present in small amounts.
Soil organic matter consists of a variety of components, including an active organic fraction i
ncluding micro-organisms (10–40%) and resistant or stable organic matter (40–
60%), also referred to as humus, in varying proportions and many intermediate stages.
 The Roles Of Soil Organic Matter In Maintaining A Good Soil Health 3

There are 5 practices that influence the amount of organic matter.

Human
interventions

Increased in Decrease in
biomass biomass
production production

Increased Decrease in
decompositions organic matter
rates supply

1. Human Interventions that affect soil organic matter.

Different types of human activity decrease the quality and biological activity of soil
organic matter. Nevertheless, growing the soil's organic matter content or even
maintaining good levels involves sustained effort involving the return of organic
materials to soil and rotations with high-residue crops and deep-or dense-rooting
crops. The organic matter content of well-aerated soils, such as coarse sands, and soils
in warm-hot and arid regions is particularly difficult to raise because the added
materials are rapidly decomposing. With less organic residue in fine textured soils,
organic soil levels can be preserved in cold temperate and humid regions for minimal
aeration.
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For an example the human behaviour that leads to influencing the activity of soil
organisms are repetitive tillage or burning of vegetation which result in a degradation
of their microenvironments. In turn, this consequences will make a reduction of soil
biota, both in biomass and diversity. Where there are no longer any organisms to
decompose soil organic matter and bind soil particles, which the soil structure is
easily damaged by the rain, wind and sun. In addition, this will lead to rainwater
runoff and soil erosion.

2. Decreased in biomass production.

A consequence of clearing forest for agriculture is the disappearance of the litter

layer, with a consequent reduction in the numbers and variety of soil organisms.
While many temperate forest species appear to adapt well to grassland (Curry and
Good, 1992), the effects of deforestation in the tropics appear to be more marked
(Plate 4). Studies have shown that as soil biodiversity declines, adapted species may
take over from the indigenous species and the composition may change drastically.

3. Decreased in organic supply.

With the common practice to burn maize, rice and other crop residues in the field . In
the following season, residues are typically burned to help control pests or diseases or
to promote fieldwork. Burning removes the surface of waste, thus reducing the
amount of organic matter added to the soil. It also removes the species that occupy the
soil and litter layer of the earth. Energy must first be invested in rebuilding the
microbial community before plant nutrients can be released for future decomposition.
Similarly, before planting, fallow lands and bush are burnt.

4. Decreased in decomposition rates

When ploughed, the residues are incorporated in the soil together with air and come
into contact with many micro-organisms, which accelerates the carbon cycle. The
decomposition is faster, resulting in the formation of less stable humus and an
increased liberation of CO2 to the atmosphere, and thus a reduction in organic matter.
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5. Increased in biomass production.

Growing cover crops is one of the best practices for improving organic matter levels
and, hence, soil quality. The benefits of growing cover crops include:
• They prevent erosion by anchoring soil and lessening the impact of raindrops.
• They add plant material to the soil for organic matter replenishment.
• Some, e.g. rye, bind excess nutrients in the soil and prevent leaching.
• Some, especially leguminous species, e.g. hairy vetch, fix N in the soil for
future use.
• Most provide habitat for beneficial insects and other organisms.
• They moderate soil temperatures and, hence, protect soil organisms.

Benefits of Soil Organic Matter

1. Increased water and nutrient-holding capacity.

Correlation of soil organic matter and water-holding capacity on transects.

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2. Formation of soil into stable aggregates

Relationship between soil organic carbon and water stable macroaggregates. Data pooled for
treatments and the three soil depths. Points represent measurements and line represents best
fit to linear function.
3. Improved water infiltration.

4. Diversify of soil organisms which results in increased stability of the living

organisms.

5. Improved rooting systems.

6. Improved cropping systems and rotations.

7. Maximizing crop residues and their management.

Conclusion
Soil organic matter which the product of on-site biological decomposition influence and
affects the chemical and physical properties of the soil especially on soil health. With various
factors that can be influence the soil composition, structure and many mores will determine
the availability and how good are the soil to provide optimum use for plants and
environments. Organic matter plays a major roles of fertility of the soil itself due to the
positive outcomes from many resources. However, soil organic matter is not the major
indicator of health of the soil. There are many factors that must be considerate before make
an assumption or arguments.