Humus facts for kids
Humus is a very important part of the soil. It is made from dead plants and animals that have broken down over time. Think of it as the rich, dark, spongy material in healthy soil.
Humus is great for plants because it acts like a sponge. It can hold a lot of water and store many important nutrients. Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients found in humus. Plants use their roots to take in this water and these nutrients from the soil.
The dark color of humus, which is usually black or dark brown, also helps the soil. It helps to warm up cold soils, especially in the spring when plants are just starting to grow.
How Humus Forms
When plants, leaves, and tiny insects die, they become what we call raw organic matter. This dead material falls onto the ground. Then, tiny living things like bacteria and fungi start to eat and break down this raw material. This process is called decomposition.
These tiny helpers don't eat everything. They leave behind a small amount of the material. This leftover part is what we call humus. This process is always happening. New dead material is always falling onto the soil, so there is always fresh organic material mixing with small pieces of rock to create more humus.
Why Humus is Important
Humus makes soil healthy and fertile. It helps soil stay loose, so air and water can move through it easily. This is good for plant roots. It also helps prevent soil from washing away during heavy rain.
In farming, people often add mature compost to their fields. Compost is very similar to humus. It helps to make the soil better for growing crops. Sometimes, humus is also taken naturally from forests, where it has formed over many years.
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