Soil Organic Matter (SOM)

Soil organic matter is composed of different compartments which differ

from each other in biochemical composition, biological stability and
carbon turnover rates (Jamal and Oke 2013).
Soil Organic Matter (SOM)
Soil organic matter exists as four distinct fractions which vary widely in
their in size, composition and turnover times in the soil:
1. dissolved organic matter
2. particulate organic matter
3. humus
4. resistant organic matter.
Soil Organic Matter (SOM) Dynamic
1. Input : plant and animal residues
2. Transformation:
• When plant residues are returned to the soil, various organic compounds
undergo decomposition.
• Decomposition reactions are catalyzed by enzymes.
• Soil organisms break-up and consume organic matter, creating different forms
of organic residues. The bulk of the organic material undergoes enzymatic
oxidation.
• Major product of decomposition : CO2, water, energy and heat.
• Successive decomposition of dead material and modified organic matter
results in the formation of a more complex organic matter called humus.
Decomposition
In the decomposition process, different products are released:
• Carbon : CO2 , HCO3- , CH4
• Nitrogen : NH4+ , NO2- , NO3- dan N2
• Sulphur : S, H2S, SO3-, SO4- dan CS2
• Phsphorus : H2PO4- dan HPO4-
• Others : H2O, H2 , H+, K+, Ca+, Mg+, O2 etc
Soil Organic Matter (SOM) Dynamic
3. Nutrient release: Nutrients and other compounds not required by
microorganisms are released and are then plant available, by a
series of specific reactions relatively unique for each element.
4. Stabilising organic matter: As the organic residues decompose,
they become more resistant to further change. The compounds,
resistant to the microbial reaction are formed either through
modification of the compounds in the original plant tissue or by the
microbial synthesis.
Soil Organic Matter (SOM) Dynamic
Three main mechanisms of SOM stabilization:
1. chemical stabilization: interaction with the soil matrix such as the
silts and clays as well as Ca and sesquioxides
2. physical protection: forming physical barriers between microbes
and enzymes and their substrates and controlling food web
interactions and consequently microbial turnover
3. biochemical stabilization: stabilization of SOM due to its own
chemical composition and through chemical complexing processes
Soil Organic Matter (SOM) Dyamic

INPUT

TRANSFORMATION

STABILIZING SOM INPUT

NUTRIENT RELEASE
Soil Organic Matter (SOM)
Furthermore, soil organic matter cycles continuously between living,
decomposing and stable fractions in the soil.
C:N Ratio
C/N ratio is the proportion of carbon to nitrogen in an organic material.
Soil C:N ratio determines the decomposability of soil organic matter,
therefore has an important impact on plant N availability.
Proper C:N ratio for decomposition SOM is 30
Immobilization, C:N ratio > 25
Mineralization, C:N ratio < 25
Why C:N Ratio important?
1. The microorganisms in compost use carbon for energy and
nitrogen for protein synthesis, just as we use carbohydrates for
energy and protein to build and repair our bodies
2. The optimal proportion of these two elements used by the bacteria
averages about 30 parts carbon to 1 part nitrogen
3. Given a steady diet at this 30:1 ratio, they can decompose organic
materials very quickly.
 Soil Organic Matter (SOM)
The investigation of SOM dynamics provides a wealth of information on how organisms,
including vegetation and soil biota, interact with climate, parent material, landscape, and
management over time to influence ecosystem functioning.
Factors affecting SOM dynamic:
1. Quality of the incoming substrates
2. The role of the soil biota and especially the microorganisms
3. Physical protection such as in aggregation
4. Interaction with the soil matrix such as the silts and clays as well as Ca and
sesquioxides
5. The chemical nature of the SOM itself. (Paul et al. 2015).
1. Trubetskoja O, Ganzharab N and Trubetskayac O. 2010. Distribution of Protein-like Components
in Electrophoretic Fractions of Humic Substances from Soils and their Litter Layers. Advances in
Natural Organic Matter and Humic Substances Research 2008-2010 Vol 2.

2. Jamala G. Y. and Oke D. O. 2013. Soil organic carbon fractions as affected by land use in the
Sourthern Guinea Savanna ecosystem of Adamawa State, Nigeria. J. of Soil Science and
Environmental Management

3. Paul, E. A., A. Kravchenko, A. S. Grandy, and S. Morris. 2015. Soil organic matter dynamics:
Controls and management for sustainable ecosystem functioning. The Ecology of Agricultural
Landscapes: Long-Term Research on the Path to Sustainability. New York: Oxford University Press.