Humus is the substance composed of certain organic products of dissolved nature, which comes from the decomposition of organic remains by beneficial organisms and microorganisms (fungi and bacteria). It is characterized by its blackish color due to the large amount of carbon it contains. It is mainly found in the upper parts of soils with organic activity.
The organic elements that make up humus are very stable, that is, their degree of decomposition is so high that they no longer decompose and do not undergo considerable transformations.
There are two kinds of humus; the old man, known that way due to a long period of time that has elapsed, is very decomposed, has a color between purple and red; some humic substances characteristic of this type of humus; They are humic acids, Humins are molecules of considerable molecular weight and are formed by entanglement of humic acids, which when isolated have the appearance of plasticine. Humic acids are lower molecular weight compounds and have a high cation exchange capacity (ICC), an important characteristic in plant nutrition. Old humus only physically influences the soil. It conserves water and prevents erosion, also serving as a storage place for nutrients.
The young humus for its part has the characteristics of the newly formed, a lower degree of polymerization and is composed of humic and fulvic acids. Humic acids are formed by the polymerization of fulvic acids, formed by the breakdown of lignin. One of the main sources of humus is found in the Leonardita and Bernadette mines. However, there are totally organic sources such as worm humus, termite humus, cucumber humus, among others. In addition to providing humic substances, it is much richer in beneficial microorganisms and nutritional elements, they are more accepted in organic and ecological agriculture.
Humus can be formed by the simple oxidation of necromass in the absence of living organisms, but this process is greatly accelerated when living organisms ingest organic matter or secrete enzymes that transform it.
The organic matter that is the basis of humus is mainly of plant origin, then microbial and animal during the transformation process, while the deep components of the soil are largely of mineral origin. The raw material for humus is garbage and plant debris, combined with components of animal origin, deposited in the A horizon (the name given to the soil surface by podiatrists) or formed by soil-moving animals, including worms.
