Humus? What’s That?
You are not alone if you have no idea about whether humus is flower or a dish or whatever. Humus is a word used to describe a very vital life process.You probably never came across it till now because of the difficulty that even the most learned have in defining it.
Humus means to plants what breathing means to us. Though we take it for granted and no one mentions it, if it stops, we stop. And probably never start up again. The only difference is that we can explain what respiration is and understand it. Humus however, is not so easy to explain. There are some parts of the process that have been clarified but eventually, we are forced to admit that Humus is still something we don’t fully get.
A good example of this is the plentiful descriptions of Humus that can be found. Some explanations are so lengthy that seem to go round in circles. Even though others are relatively clear, it is really hard for us that don’t hold any Biology degrees, to understand. So here is a little information about Humus. It won’t get you into graduate school, but it helps you understand why your garden is working or why it isn’t.
Humus is one of the many scientific terms that are often defined by using itself. That is because it is much easier to through a term already available than trying to dissect the scientific meaning behind it. Humus is a label for an intense process that is difficult to explain.
With all said and done, there are still a couple of things that gardeners and just ordinary people might need to know about Humus. It is, after all an essential process to life on earth. This makes the term very important though tricky. Let’s start with a small piece of the pie. Humus results because of decomposed organic materials in soil. It is a combination of animal, plant and other organic materials from manure and decomposition. The process that leads to the production of Humus is called humification. Humification naturally occurs in the soil when compost is made. It is essential to increase the fertility of the soil. Humus retains moisture in the soil and enhances plant growth.
Humification is a very intense process combining water, soil, sun and decomposing materials of living things in order to provide nutrients for plants. How it can be extracted from the soil is still a mystery. People have been trying from the days of the Romans to pinpoint a clear concise definition of Humus. In the late eighteenth century J.G Wallenis narrowed the meaning of Humus down to denote decomposition of organic materials. He was heading in the right direction but it took until 1840 to discover that plants can not get minerals directly from the soil.
Plants only get nutrients from the soil in an inorganic state. Plant food is first transformed into mineral salts. These mineral salts are the result of the humification of matter that is decomposing, and is the most efficient environment for aerobic micro-organisms. The free oxygen present in the soil is a major contributor in managing good or bad conditions under which Humus is created. Soil temperature as well as moisture combine with the decomposing residue to make Humus. In case there is too much oxygen and organic matter decomposing swiftly Humus won’t occur. This happens commonly in tropical areas. Another determining factor is soil temperature. If soil temperature rises there is an increase in microbial activity. In extra aerated soil Humus cannot build up.
There are many types of Humus. There is peat Humus which can form in water and also in soil. The better the Humus, the healthier your garden will be. You will have stronger plants thanks to the soil balance that Humus maintains.
Of course, as a gardener, it would be good to have a clear definition of Humus. But let’s face it, we can’t possibly explain everything. Just be thankful that it is present and it will help you in your gardening endeavors. Humus Happens! And this is the most important thing you should know about it.