What is the humification process?

Humification is a process of formation of humic substances (organic matter that has reached maturity) decomposed from plant remains. In the presence of oxygen, microbes and fungi attack lignin or organic substance that binds the cells, fibers, and vessels of wood and converted to humic substances.

What is humification in decomposition?

Humification Meaning Humus is a black amorphous substance produced by the decomposition of dead and decaying organic matter by microorganisms. In the process of humification, organic matters are transformed into organic polymers, which are stable and cannot be decomposed further by organisms and remain as humus.

What is the difference between humification and decomposition?

Decomposition of organic matter is largely a biological process that occurs naturally. Successive decomposition of dead material and modified organic matter results in the formation of a more complex organic matter called humus (Juma, 1998). This process is called humification.

What is meant by mineralization?

Mineralization is defined as conversion organic compounds into inorganic compounds through various decomposition procedures.

What is Podzolization process?

: a process of soil formation especially in humid regions involving principally leaching of the upper layers with accumulation of material in lower layers and development of characteristic horizons specifically : the development of a podzol.

Which soil has highest CEC?

Humus, the end product of decomposed organic matter, has the highest CEC value because organic matter colloids have large quantities of negative charges. Humus has a CEC two to five times greater than montmorillonite clay and up to 30 times greater than kaolinite clay, so is very important in improving soil fertility.

What factors affect process of humification?

Intensive nitrogen losses are observed only at the high temperature and moisture of litter (22°C and 100% WHC). Humification determined from the accumulation of humic substances in the end of incubation decreases from 34 to 9% with increasing moisture and temperature.

What is an example of mineralization?

1. The process of mineralizing, or forming a mineral by combination of a metal with another element; also, the process of converting into a mineral, as a bone or a plant.

What are the three stages of mineralization?

During the mineralization, nitrogen is converted to inorganic forms (NH4, NO2, and NO3) by three reactions: aminization, ammonification, and nitrification.

What is Laterization?

Tropical weathering (laterization) is a prolonged process of chemical weathering which produces a wide variety in the thickness, grade, chemistry and ore mineralogy of the resulting soils. Laterite has commonly been referred to as a soil type as well as being a rock type.

What causes Podzolization?

In intrazonal podzols, especially those in the tropics, parent materials poor in weatherable minerals and in Fe and Al oxides are the main cause of podzolization.

What is a good CEC level?

CEC is reported in units of milli-equivalents per 100 grams of soil (meq/100 g) and can range from below 5 meq/100 g in sandy, low organic matter soils to over 15meq/100 g in finer textured soils and those high in organic matter. Low CEC soils are more susceptible to cation nutrient loss through leaching.