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Organic Matter

Organic Matter. What is organic matter. Original Power Point Created by Darrin Holle Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office June 2002. Nature of O.M. 1. Is the portion of the soil which includes animal and plant remains at stages of decay Forest= leaves, dead trees,

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Organic Matter

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  1. Organic Matter What is organic matter Original Power Point Created by Darrin Holle Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office June 2002

  2. Nature of O.M. • 1. Is the portion of the soil which includes animal and plant remains at stages of decay • Forest= leaves, dead trees, • Prairies=grass roots and tops • Farmland= crop residue

  3. Chemical Makeup of O.M. • 1. Consists of complex carbon-containing compounds • 2. Long chains are formed and other elements use these to make more organic compounds

  4. Chemical Makeup of O.M • 3. The most important compounds are • A. Carbohydrates: simple sugars, starches, and cellulose • B. Lignins: is 10-30% of plant tissue, makes plants rigid, resists decay

  5. Chemical Makeup of O.M • C. Protein • Amino acid chains • Supplies N when broken down

  6. Decomposition • 1. Micro-organisms digest organic matter • 2. Releases CO2 and H2O • 3. Carbohydrates are first to be consumed • 4. Lignin-becomes humus and slowly broke down

  7. Decomposition • 5. Decay Organisms need O2 and microorganisms use O2 to oxidize the different compounds • 6. 1st breakdown is quick and requires weeks or months • 7. Well drained soils will lose 1-3% of humus a year to oxidation

  8. Factors affecting O.M. • 1. Vegetation • 2 times as much o.m. on grassland to woodland • O.M. is deeper in prairie soil and is in soil

  9. Factors affecting O.M. • 2. Climate • Arid conditions soil has less O.M. • High temperatures decay O.M. more rapidly

  10. Factors affecting O.M. • 3. Texture • Fine textured soils hold more organic material because clay protects hums from decay

  11. Factors affecting O.M • 4. Tillage • Prairie will return more than cropping

  12. Functions of O.M. • A. Nutrient and water storage • 1. O.M. stores many of the nutrients used by plants and does it in 2 different ways • Colloids hold water and nutrients • O.M. stores nutrients as part of its own makeup

  13. Functions of O.M. • 2. Both humus and O.M. absorb water like a sponge, humus can store 6 times its own weight

  14. Functions of O.M. • B. Nutrient Availability • Makes several nutrients more available for plant use

  15. Functions of O.M • C. Soil Aggregation • 1. Heavy clay responds best. Breaks down particles, aerates, and makes easier to work with

  16. Functions of O.M • D. Prevents Erosion • 1. Soils kept supplied with O.M. have improved structure that improves water infiltration • 2. Stops excessive water runoff • 3. Increasing O.M. from 1-3% will reduce erosion 1/5-1/3

  17. Functions of O.M. • Undesirable Effects • 1. Nitrogen is immobilized or tied up during the decay process and is unavailable to plants • 2. Certain plant residues are toxic to other plants

  18. Maintaining Soil O.M. • A. It is impractical and not economical to raise O.M. levels significantly but should be a goal to maintain at highest levels

  19. Maintaining Soil O.M. • B. Adding fresh organic matter will improve soil the best

  20. Maintaining Soil O.M. • C. Crop Residues • Leave all crop materials possible. Don’t burn residues, harvest some • Use good fertilizer, healthy plants make more residue

  21. Maintaining Soil O.M. • D. Green Manure • 1. Turn over alfalfa, clover, sudan grass, will increase N levels • 2. Increases O.M. levels and fixes more nutrients

  22. Maintaining Soil O.M. • E. Crop Rotation • 1. A rotation between row crops, small grains, and legumes is better for keeping high O.M.

  23. Maintaining Soil O.M. • F. Organic Matter Additions • 1. Animal Manures, sludge, organic wastes • 2. Industries may provide organic wastes, by products, meat scraps, etc.

  24. Maintaining Soil O.M. • G. Mulches • 1. Not economical in large acres • 2. Reduce tillage leaves some mulch • 3. Limits water evaporation, keeps soil temperature cooler on hot days, and warmer at night

  25. Maintaining Soil O.M. • 4. Horticulture crops are mulched

  26. Maintaining Soil O.M. • H. Conservation Tillage • 1. Conserves topsoil which is high in O.M. • 2. Crop residue decays slower when left on top • 3. No till soils are high in O.M. in the top layer

  27. Nitrogen Tie-up and Composting • A. Soil Microorganisms need both Carbon and N in their diet to grow and multiply • 1. Fresh organic matter will increase number of organisms because higher food supply

  28. Nitrogen Tie-up and Composting • 2. They compete with plants for N and can cause slow plant growth

  29. Nitrogen Tie-up and Composting • B. Carbon-Nitrogen Ratio (C:N ratio) • 1. The measure of carbon amounts compared to N amounts • 2. Plants with high c:n ratio’s are of greatest concern

  30. Nitrogen Tie-up and Composting • 3. Matter with a low c:n ratio N rich • A high c:n ratio is N poor

  31. Nitrogen Tie-up and Composting • Soil Humus 10 Garden Soil 12 • Young Alf 12 compost 15-20 • Rotted manure 20 Clover residue 23 • Corn stalks 60 Straw 60 • Sawdust 400

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