Bio Organic Fertilizer: Soil Organic Matter

Bio Organic Fertilizer: Soil Organic Matter: Soil organic matter is a very important factor in soil fertility. It is a reservoir of plant nutrients, has a high CEC, buffers soil pH, and...

Soil Organic Matter

Soil organic matter is a very important factor in soil fertility. It is a reservoir of plant nutrients, has a high CEC, buffers soil pH, and chelates micronutrients. Organic matter exists in different forms in soil, ranging from living soil organisms to fresh, readily decomposed plant residues to humus that is ve[table. Living soil organisms include bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, nematodes, earthworms, mites, and insects. They make up the soil food web, which carries out biological nutrient cycling. Plant roots are a sometimes forgotten part of the living soil biomass. Readily decomposed or active organic matter is the form of organic matter through which nutrients are actively recycled. Stable humus contributes to long-term nutrient supply and is the organic matter fraction with high CEC. Chelation is the ability of soluble organic compounds to form complexes with micronutrient metals that keep them in solution and available for uptake. In organic soils, trace metal complexes with organic matter can reduce their availability.

One of the best ways to add organic matter to the soil is to maintain fertility and grow healthy crops that add large amounts of plant residue.

Bio Organic Fertilizer: Sources of Plant Nutrients in the Soil

Bio Organic Fertilizer: Sources of Plant Nutrients in the Soil: Sources of Plant Nutrients in the Soil: Plants obtain mineral nutrients through root uptake from the soil solution. Sources of these solub...

Bio Organic Fertilizer: Sources of Plant Nutrients in the Soil

Bio Organic Fertilizer: Sources of Plant Nutrients in the Soil: Sources of Plant Nutrients in the Soil: Plants obtain mineral nutrients through root uptake from the soil solution. Sources of these solub...

Bio Organic Fertilizer: Sources of Plant Nutrients in the Soil

Bio Organic Fertilizer: Sources of Plant Nutrients in the Soil: Sources of Plant Nutrients in the Soil: Plants obtain mineral nutrients through root uptake from the soil solution. Sources of these solub...

Sources of Plant Nutrients in the Soil

Sources of Plant Nutrients in the Soil:

Plants obtain mineral nutrients through root uptake from the soil solution. Sources of these soluble nutrients in soil include:

Decomposition of plant residues, animal remains, and soil microorganisms
Weathering of soil minerals.
Fertilizer applications.
Manures, composts, biosolids (sewage sludge), and other organic amendments such as food processing byproducts
N-fixation by legumes.
Atmospheric deposition, such as N and S from acid rain or N-fixation by lightning discharges.
Deposition of nutrient-rich sediment from erosion and flooding.

Losses of Plant Nutrients from the Soil:

Mineral nutrients also can be lost from the soil system and become unavailable for plant uptake. Nutrient losses are not just costly and wasteful, they can be a source of environmental contamination when they reach lakes, rivers, and groundwater.
Nutrient losses occur through:

Runoff – loss of dissolved nutrients in water moving across the soil surface.
Erosion – loss of nutrients in or attached to soil particles that are removed from fields by wind or water movement.
Leaching – loss of dissolved nutrients in water that moves down through the soil to groundwater or out of the field through drain lines.
Gaseous losses to the atmosphere – primarily losses of different N forms through volatilization and denitrification.
Crop removal – plant uptake and removal of nutrients from the field in harvested products

The accumulation of crop nutrients in the topsoil by recycling and fallow ash, the increase of soil organic matter and the suppression of the weeds, pest & diseases.

Composting:

Organic residues, when composted, undergo decomposition by the digestive of bacteria, fungi and other soil micro fauna. Within two or three months, a dark, pulverised material rich in humus is produced.Most of the organic N, S and P are converted into plant available inorganic forms.The C/N ration decrease and pH increases.Well decomposed compost is a good source of available nutrients which are supplied to the plants slowly and gradually.Certain organic constituents present in the compost act as chelating agents and help in the absorption of certain trace elements.

Basic Plant Nutrient Cycle

Basic Plant Nutrient Cycle:

The basic plant nutrient cycle highlights the central role of soil organic matter. Cycling of many plant nutrients, esYally N, P, S, and B, closely follows parts of the Carbon Cycle. Plant residues and manure from animals fed forage, grain, and other plant-derived foods are returned to the soil. This organic matter pool of carbon compounds becomes food for bacteria, fungi, and other decomposers. As organic matter is broken down to simpler compounds, plant nutrients are released in available forms for root uptake and the cycle begins again. Plant-available K, Ca, Mg, P, S, and some micronutrients are also released when soil minerals and precipitates dissolve.

Efficient use of all nutrient sources and the primary challenges in sustaining soil fertility are to:
Reduce nutrient losses
Maintain or increase nutrient storage capacity
Promote recycling of plant nutrients
Apply additional nutrients in appropriate amounts

Cultural practices that support the development of healthy, vigorous root systems result in efficient uptake and use of available nutrients. Crop rotations, reducing tillage, managing and maintaining crop residue, growing cover crops, handling manure as a valuable nutrient source, composting and using all available wastes or byproducts, maintain soil pH, applying supplemental fertilizers, and routine soil testing. There are many good ways to farm, so different solutions or combinations of practices are appropriate for different systems to reach similar goals.

Benefits of Using Compost

Benefits of Using Compost:

• Improves the soil structure, porosity, and density, thus creating a better plant root environment.
• Increases moisture infiltration and permeability of heavy soils, thus reducing erosion and runoff.
• Improves water-holding capacity, thus reducing water loss and leaching in sandy soils.
• Supplies a variety of macro and micronutrients.
• May control or suppress certain soil-borne plant pathogens.
• Supplies significant quantities of organic matter.
• Improves cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils and growing media, thus improving their ability to hold nutrients for plant use.
• Supplies beneficial micro-organisms to soils and growing media.
• Improves and stabilizes soil pH.