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Organic Matter of Forest Soils

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Forest Soils

Abstract

Organic matter is a major component of soil. It has tremendous ecological significance; it determines soil health, influences ecosystem productivity, and affects climate quality. Soil organic matter (SOM) has three main fractions, fresh undecomposed residues, decomposing and partially decomposed materials, and a highly decomposed and stable product humus (it is not completely decomposed organic matter; complete decomposition of organic matter produces carbon dioxide, water, and other inorganics). Plant litters including dead leaves, stems, barks, flowers, fruits, and logs are the major sources of forest SOM. Soil animals, microorganisms, and roots also contribute to the SOM. The threshold value for organic matter in agricultural soil is 2 % by weight, beyond which soil quality does not remain sustainable, but no threshold level for forest soils has so far been established. Forest mineral soils have generally 1–5 % organic matter by weight. Forest soils usually have higher organic matter than agricultural soils. There are two types of organic matter in soil, active or labile and passive or stable. Humus is the stable fraction of SOM. Forest ecologists identify three types of humus: mull humus, mor humus, and moder humus depending on the degree of decomposition and integration with mineral matter, acidity, and base contents. This categorization is more pronounced in temperate and boreal forest soils. A deep O horizon also develops in these types of forests. SOM performs a variety of physical, chemical, and biological functions including aggregation, soil reaction and ion exchange and nutrient cycling in addition to supply of food and energy to soil biota.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh

    Khan Towhid Osman

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  1. Khan Towhid Osman
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Correspondence to Khan Towhid Osman .

Study Questions

Study Questions

  1. 1.

    What is soil organic matter? What are the sources of organic matter in forest soils? Give an account of the functions of organic matter in forest soil.

  2. 2.

    Explain the structure and properties of a forest floor. Narrate its significance. Why are tropical forests usually lacking a well-developed forest floor?

  3. 3.

    Define humus. Explain why humus is relatively stable in soil. Discuss different types of humus in forest soils. Discuss the turnover of SOM with emphasis on humus.

  4. 4.

    What do you mean by DOM? Discuss the chemical nature of DOM and explain the significance of DOM.

  5. 5.

    Give an account of the chemical composition of SOM. Explain that humic acid, fulvic acid, and huminHumin are products of acid–alkali fractionation procedure; they are not discrete chemical compounds.

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Osman, K. (2013). Organic Matter of Forest Soils. In: Forest Soils. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02541-4_4

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