In classical soil science, humus (derived in 1790-1800 from the Latin humus per terra, terra is a fraction of soil organic matter, amorphous and devoid of the “cellular pie structure” characteristic of plants, microorganisms or animals.
Humus is a material that forms in soil when organic matter decays. Humic soils are especially good for plant growth and are often produced via composting. In nature, humus soil is produced when fungi decompose a carcass or old plant and return its organic compounds to the environment. Fertilizers normally contain humus.
The formation of morhumus, or raw humus, occurs in soil that has few microorganisms or animals such as earthworms to decompose the organic matter lying on the soil surface.
In nature, the introduction of humus into the soil occurs by itself during the decomposition of plant residues, dead animals and other organic matter. Humus will exist in the soil long after the remaining nutrients have been taken up by the surrounding plants.
Humus Should Be Kept at a High Level
If there is too much humus in the soil, the soil can hold too much water, creating an unhealthy condition. With the introduction of humus into your garden each year, you’re less likely to risk overloading your soil with more nutrients than your plants are able to use.
For most of us, the practical problem of increasing humus content is the annual addition of organic material to the soil. Plants growing on humus-free soils absorb more nutrients than are required for the accumulation of plant matter when mineral fertilizers are applied.
With regular cultivation, including the addition of soil additives such as minerals to balance pH and fertilizers from organic materials, the humus content in the soil gradually increases over time. Soil humus content can easily go out of range because growing food crops, grasses, and ornamental plants quickly depletes humus.
The humus in the roots of plants helps them stay moist longer than soil without humus. Humus also helps soil retain water by creating gaps in the compost and increasing water retention. Humus also gives the soil the necessary structure and crumbly, loose texture to allow oxygen to penetrate and reach the roots of plants. Simply adding fertilizer to soil is not a viable solution, as humus doesn’t just add nutrients; it also gives soil structure and texture.
How Humus Improves Plant Growth
The improved soil structure found in humus-rich soils promotes plant root growth, giving them better access to nutrients, water, and most importantly, oxygen. This water-holding capacity of humus explains why soils rich in humus stay moist for weeks longer than soils without humus.
The presence of humus between the mineral particles and the air space enables the soil to nourish the plants in two ways. Humus is what turns sterile soil into fertile soil that enables plants to grow. Humus also creates an environment that supports organisms, converting soil nutrients into a form that can be used by plant roots, improving soil fertility. To create rich humus or organic matter, some farmers or growers make compost, which provides fertile soil for plants to grow.
While you should use organic materials to make compost, organic materials are just dead plants/animals found on the ground/ground. To understand the difference between compost and humus, you need to understand the difference between organic matter and organic matter and how they affect soil. The difference between compost and humus is that compost is still decomposing, and compost contains live bacteria and other nutrients that directly promote plant growth.
To summarize all composts resist humus decomposition, and while humus can be produced (albeit very, very slowly) through the composting process, compost is not humus until it breaks down into dark organic matter that can no longer be broken down.
Why Compost and Manure Improve Soil Quality
In fact, when you add compost and manure, you are feeding your soil with your plants just as much as the plants themselves. Too much organic matter can be a problem for the soil, so adding a lot of organic matter to create humus quickly is not a good idea.
Research has shown that diseases caused by plant deficiency are often less severe when the soil is rich in organic matter such as humus. More precisely, humus is a dark organic matter formed in the soil during the further decomposition of dead plant and animal substances (including aerobic compost), in particular, under the action of anaerobic organisms.
Humus, on the other hand, is a general term for fully decomposed plant material that is naturally present in the topsoil or has been added by man. Humus is the substance that remains after plants and animals have undergone a long process of complete decomposition by earthworms, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms.
Humus is the end result of the decomposition process, and compost is the word for the stage in the decomposition process where the decomposition of plant material is most beneficial to the soil. The humus you find at a planting store is best suited for compost, which is decomposed organic matter that still contains plenty of plant nutrients and also has a high water-holding capacity.
Humic Acid Benefits the Soil
Humic soil contains an important component of humic acid, which is primarily used to provide vital nutrients to agricultural soils. Thus, humus obtained by humification is a mixture of biological chemical compounds and complexes of plant, animal or microbial origin, which performs many functions and useful properties in the soil.
Larger soil organisms such as earthworms, beetles and termites redistribute this humus vertically into the mineral matter below the soil surface. Soil humus plays an important role in retaining moisture, loosening heavy, sticky soils, increasing the density of light soils, helping to improve soil drainage and aeration, stimulating the growth and growth of soil organisms, and ensuring plant nutrient availability.
Humus gives soil the desired crumbly texture and improves soil structure by making it looser, which facilitates the movement of air and water. In sandy conditions, humus helps retain moisture levels and allows water to penetrate the roots, taking excess water away so it doesn’t overwhelm the roots and deprive the soil of essential nutrients. The humus will then protect your soil and help it maintain the pH you’re trying to achieve so your plants will grow strong where you put them.