Search results
Jun 16, 2022 · Organic matter pertains to any of the carbon-based compounds that abound in nature. Living things are described as organic since they are composed of organic compound s. Examples of organic compounds are carbohydrates, lipid s, protein s and nucleic acid s.
- Soil
soil Unconsolidated material on the earth’s surface that...
- Microorganism
Definition noun, plural: microorganisms An organism that is...
- Compound
Organic vs. Inorganic . An organic compound is a type of...
- Plant
Plant Genomics. Plants have large genomes.Among the plant...
- Animal
Animal Definition. An animal (plural: animals) refers to any...
- Protein
Protein Definition. Proteins are biomolecules comprised of...
- Environment
Biology definition: The environment is the external...
- Soil
One suitable definition of organic matter is biological material in the process of decaying or decomposing, such as humus. A closer look at the biological material in the process of decaying reveals so-called organic compounds (biological molecules) in the process of breaking up (disintegrating).
Organic matter in soils ranges from recognizable plant parts (roots, leaves, stems) to humus, which is partly decomposed plant material that is amorphous and spongy in nature. Organic matter contributes to a soil׳s ability to retain nutrients and water (i.e., soil׳s CEC).
It consists of three distinctly different parts: living organisms, fresh residues and molecules derived from well-decomposed residues. These three parts of soil organic matter have been described as the living, the dead and the very dead.
Soil organic matter is arguably the most important soil component, influencing soil structure, water-holding capacity, soil stability, nutrient storage and turnover, and oxygen-holding capacity, properties that are fundamental in maintaining and improving soil quality. (see ORGANIC MATTER | Principles and Processes.)
Oct 31, 2023 · Key Points. The chemical composition of the soil, the topography, and the presence of living organisms determines the quality of soil. In general, soil contains 40-45% inorganic matter, 5% organic matter, 25% water, and 25% air.
Jul 24, 2022 · An organic compound is a compound that, in general, contains carbon covalently bound to other atoms, especially Carbon-Carbon (C-C) and Carbon-Hydrogen (C-H) (such as in hydrocarbons). A chemical compound refers to any substance made up of two or more elements that are chemically bonded together.
