Average humus content in soil. How humus is formed, the beneficial properties of humus for soil. The importance of humus for plants

Humus- a Latin word, it literally translates as earth, soil. In soil science, this term refers to a specific group of high-molecular, dark-colored substances formed during the decomposition of organic residues in the soil. These compounds are synthesized from the products of decay and decay of dead plant and animal tissues.

Anyone who has ever dug the ground knows that the top layer of soil is darker than the lower horizons. It contains a lot of small roots and humus - crushed, semi-decomposed plant residues mixed with mineral soil. All these residues that rot in the soil are material from which, with the participation of soil-dwelling microorganisms and animals, new organic compounds are formed, very stable, in which a large number of elements of mineral nutrition of plants. This is humus.

In different natural areas, the humus layer of soil has different depths and colors. For example, in the Moscow region it is dark gray in color and only a few centimeters thick. And in the rich chernozems of Ukraine, the humus horizon is black, its thickness is more than a meter.

Soil fertility depends on the presence of essential nutrients in a form accessible to plants. Humus compounds are a reserve of nutrients. They decompose very slowly, transform into forms accessible to plants and are completely absorbed by the roots. Due to humus, the soil is able to produce stable crops for a long time. Gradually, this reserve is depleted, and if for some reason the new formation of humus is slower than its consumption, the yield begins to decline, which is what we observe on lands that are intensively exploited and at the same time improperly cultivated and fertilized.

Soil humus is a complex of different chemical compounds, in which several groups are distinguished, differing in chemical composition, properties, degree of stability in the soil. For example, humic acids, the most stable and long-living components of humus in the soil, give it a dark color. In chernozem soils their content is very high. And in podzolic soils, so-called gray humic acids predominate - fulvic acids - more mobile, decomposing faster in the soil. That is why in the Non-Chernozem Zone the humus horizon is light and thin.

The processes of humification are very complex, their speed and nature are determined by many reasons: landscape and climatic conditions, vegetation composition, microbial and animal populations of the soil. The transformation of plant remains into humus is associated with grinding plant tissues and mixing them with mineral particles. At this stage, soil animals play an important role, feeding on such remains and digging underground passages and burrows.

Dead parts of plants first become prey for large invertebrates, which tear off, crush and grind large particles. Dead plant tissue is high in fiber and lignin. These compounds decompose very slowly in the soil and are poorly digested in the intestines of animals, but after processing in the intestinal tract of invertebrates they are greatly crushed and enriched in secretions. Then in the ground they are quickly populated by soil microflora, continuing further destruction and decomposition. Some groups of the animal population of the soil are capable of very active decomposition of fiber with the help of symbiotic microorganisms. These include, for example, woodlice, centipedes, slugs, snails, and the larvae of many insects.

In the absence of animals, the destruction of plant tissue slows down sharply. Dead roots of alfalfa, for example, retain their structure for a long time, and if they are colonized with sciarid fly larvae, they turn into an amorphous dark mass in just a few days. There is a close connection between the abundance of soil animals and the activity of humus formation.

For the formation of high-quality humus, an important condition is sufficient soil aeration. Animals constantly form a system of passages, which are constantly cleaned and maintained by their inhabitants. This system of passages creates ventilation and ensures the penetration of oxygen into the deep soil horizons, and thanks to this, aerobic processes can develop there.

Animal activity also has a known effect on soil acidity. For example, earthworms secrete large amounts of calcium carbonate during their metabolism. When the number of worms is high, this calcium significantly changes the acidity of the soil, bringing it closer to a neutral reaction. Some centipedes and woodlice have thick chitinous shells impregnated with calcium.

During molting or after the death of insects, their shells collapse, and calcium is included in metabolic soil processes. In forest-steppe oak forests, where diplopod centipedes are very numerous, the supply of calcium from their shells is up to 50 kg per hectare per year.

During their metabolism, many soil animals release a number of active compounds that are directly involved in reactions leading to the formation of humic substances. Among microorganisms vital importance Bacteria, actinomycetes, and microscopic fungi are involved in the formation of humus. In the cells of some actinomycetes, specific dark-colored compounds are formed, the molecules of which, when interacting with each other, form humic substances. Actinomycetes are capable of synthesizing fulvic acids. Fungi that are widespread in the soil, such as penicillium and aspergillus, are involved in the initial stages of humification of plant residues.

Microorganisms also decompose humus in the soil. These are molds, actinomycetes, yeasts, and thermophilic bacteria. The decomposition and mineralization of humus is accelerated by a lack of organic material rich in nitrogen.

Soil scientists distinguish different types of humus, differing in their properties and formation characteristics. The lowest quality humus is the so-called raw or coarse acidic humus - “mor”. It is formed when low temperatures, excess moisture or poor soils. The pest contains a lot of semi-decomposed plant remains. The main agents of its formation are mushrooms. It should be noted that mushrooms secrete substances that create an acidic reaction in the soil. Thus, they prevent the settlement of animals and slow down the rate of crushing of plant tissues. As a result, many large particles rich in lignin and fiber remain in the humified mass, retaining a large amount of nutrients, which makes such humus unproductive.

Fine grinding of plant residues by animals, their secretion of mucous and alkaline products into the mass of decomposing organic matter leads to the formation of fine-grained, high-quality “sweet humus”, or “mulla”. Mull forms in soils with a high abundance of earthworms. Of great importance is the secretion of mucus by worms, which glues organic and mineral particles together. They form stable, water-resistant soil aggregates that do not disintegrate for a long time and form a granular soil structure.

There are other transitional types of humus. Their formation largely depends on the composition and activity of soil organisms and the supply of organic material in the soil. In the fields, the soil is quickly depleted, and the humus content in it decreases. And the reason is that along with the harvest, the reserve of organic material, in which mineral nutrition products of plants are accumulated, is also removed. The number of animals also decreases, and subsequently the activity of humus formation decreases.

The mineralization of the humus reserve in the soil begins, and after its depletion, soil productivity drops (humus melts). Application of large doses mineral fertilizers cannot compensate for the decrease in natural soil fertility, since plants absorb only a small part of it. And excessive concentrations of fertilizers in the soil solution and in succulent plant tissues reduce the quality of agricultural products. Nitrate poisoning of vegetables and fruits grown under conditions of excessive levels of mineral fertilizers has become widely notorious.

To preserve natural soil fertility and increase productivity, it is first necessary to apply organic fertilizers. Only they can compensate for the loss of organic material removed during harvesting. Enriching the soil with organic matter also leads to increased activity of microorganisms and animals involved in humification processes, which also contributes to the formation of a humus reserve and maintaining its balance.

For closed ground where a small land area is intensively exploited, you can use “vermicompost” - a high-quality organic fertilizer obtained by processing various organic residues (manure, sludge, etc.) by earthworms. This is a relatively expensive fertilizer obtained in the conditions of industrial cultivation of worms, however, it will more than pay off in high environmental yields clean products while maintaining the biopotential of the soil.

The content of humic substances in soils is a characteristic genetic and classification feature for each of the known types of soils. The change in humus content in soils occurs extremely slowly, being the result not of temporary circumstances, but of the complex and long previous history of the soil-forming process and the interaction of soil with external environment. For each soil type, a certain stable content of humus in the upper soil horizons and a stable type of distribution of its reserves along the profile have been established. Each type of soil is at the same time characterized by a certain qualitative composition of humus: the ratio of humic acids and fulvic acids, the structure of their molecules and the forms of their organomineral compounds (Table 53).

For chernozem soils, the typical humus content is 8-10% in the upper horizon and a slow, gradual decrease in the lower horizons. The thickness of humus horizons in chernozem soils is at least 1-1.5 m, and in the chernozems of Ukraine and Kuban sometimes reaches 2 m or more.
The soils of the desert steppes - gray soils - contain an insignificant amount of humus - 1-2%, sharply decreasing during the transition from the upper soil horizons to the lower ones, while the thickness of the humus horizons in them does not exceed 30-40 cm. And in takyrs - typical soils of clay deserts - humus is contained only in the upper cortical microhorizon in an amount of 0.5-1%. The organic matter of desert and semi-desert soils differs sharply in chemical composition from the organic matter of chernozems. If humins and humic acid compounds predominate in the composition of humus in chernozem soils, then in serozem and takyr soils a significant role belongs to fulvic acid compounds. Accordingly, the color of the humus horizons of desert soils differs from the color of chernozems.
In soddy-podzolic and podzolic soils located to the north of chernozems, the humus content and the thickness of humus horizons also sharply decrease. The upper horizons of soddy-podzolic and podzolic soils contain from 1 to 5% humus, the underlying horizons affected by the podzol formation process contain only tenths of a percent of humus and, as a result, are distinguished by a whitish light gray color. Organic substances here are represented by fulvic acid compounds, characterized by high mobility.
The humus content is significant in soddy-meadow, floodplain and delta soils (up to 12-14%), as well as in mountain-meadow soils, where it sometimes reaches 15-25%. However, the thickness of the humus horizons in soddy-meadow and mountain-meadow soils is usually small.
A certain pattern is established in the geographical distribution of humic substances in soils (Fig. 60). The accumulation of humus reaches its maximum in typical thick chernozems. Here the most favorable hydrothermal and biochemical conditions develop, ensuring high production of fresh organic matter, moderate microbial activity, conservation and preservation of humus in soils.

To the south and north of the chernozem zone, the combination of hydrothermal and biochemical conditions is unfavorable both for the synthesis of humus and for its accumulation and preservation. In semi-desert and desert zones, the annual production of plant mass never reaches large values. At the same time, organic matter here quickly mineralizes. To the north of the chernozem zone, there is a predominant accumulation of fulvic acids, which are highly mobile and do not accumulate in soils. In the northern zones of Russia, with high acidity and swampy soils, the accumulation of semi-decomposed and undecomposed organic matter in the form of peat occurs.
MM. Kononova showed that the nature of humus various types soils are profoundly different. Based on the humus content in the upper horizon, the Cgc:SfC ratio, the amount of mobile humic acids and their optical density2 (E4:E5), M.M. Kononova distinguishes three types of humus (see Table 53).
The first type is distinguished by a sharp predominance of fulvic acids (Cgc:CfC ranges from 0.5-0.8), almost one hundred percent mobility of humic acids and a large value of their color coefficient (E4:E6 = 4.5; 5.5). The latter indicates a weak condensation of the aromatic core and proximity to fulvic acids. The high hydrophilicity and dispersity of humic acids determine the tendency to form intracomplex compounds with polyvalent cations and the ability to move within the soil profile in aqueous solutions. The aggressiveness and mobility of humus of the first type contributes to the development of the processes of eluviation, podzol formation, ferallitization, and allitization.
The second type of humus, humus of chernozems, dark meadow and dark chestnut soils, is characterized by the predominance of humic acids (ratio Cgk:Sfk = 1.5-2.5). Mobile forms of humic acids make up 10-20% of the total content. Humic acids of the second type of humus are characterized by low color coefficient values (3.5-4). In molecules of humic acids of this type, aromatic structures predominate over aliphatic ones, which determines their hydrophobicity, low coagulation threshold and inability to form intracomplex compounds with iron, aluminum and other cations. All this determines the inertness of humus of the second type.
The third type of humus (humus of brown semi-desert soils), like the first type, has a fulvic acid composition (Cg: CfK ranges from 0.5-0.7), the formation of humic acids is inhibited; the optical density of humic acids is low (E4:E6 about 4.5); In contrast to the first type of humus, in the composition of the third type of humus, the humic acids of brown semi-desert soils are almost completely (90%) combined with the mineral part of the soil. The formation of humus is accompanied by almost complete neutralization of humic acids, primarily calcium and magnesium, which are present in large quantities in these soils. Apparently, this can explain the weak effect of humic acids on the mineral part of the soil. The humus of gray forest soils occupies an intermediate position between the humus of the first and second types, the humus of light chestnut soils - between the humus of the second and third types.
In foreign literature, the characteristics of humus by morphology are widely used. It is certainly given when describing other morphological properties and is taken into account when determining the name of soils and their genetic affiliation. In this case, the terms “mor”, “moder” and “muhl” are used, first proposed by Müller to characterize the type of litter. Currently, they are used to determine the type of organic matter of litter and humus-accumulative horizon. A classification of humus types according to morphology and characteristic features was proposed by Duchaufour. Depending on the conditions of formation, humus is divided into two categories - those formed under conditions of aerobiosis and under conditions of anaerobiosis.
In well-drained soils, there are four types of humus.
Calcium Mule- humus of chernozems, chestnut, humus-carbonate and a number of other soils formed under herbaceous vegetation on rocks enriched with lime. Mule - “sweet” humus is a well-humified organic substance formed under conditions of increased biological activity during the transformation of plant residues by invertebrate animals and bacteria. It is characterized by a neutral reaction, C:N=10, complete inclusion of organic mass in the mineral profile, and the formation of stable organo-mineral complexes.
forest mule- humus of deciduous forests and arable soils after clearing of deciduous forests. In terms of morphology, forest mule does not differ from calcium mule, but has a lower degree of saturation, pH about 5.5, is distinguished by the predominance of brown humic acids, and the C:N ratio is from 10 to 20.
Moder- transitional type of humus from mule to mora - humus of sod-podzolic, loessified, mountain-meadow and arable soils after clearing mixed forests. Moder includes litter with a thickness of 2-3 cm and a humus-accumulative horizon. The degree of humification is average, brown humic acids predominate. Anthropods and acidophilic fungi participate in the transformation of plant residues; the biological activity of decomposition of plant residues is average. The C:N ratio is about 15-25. Organo-mineral complexes are fragile, contact with the mineral part of the soil is incomplete.
Mop- humus of soils of coniferous forests and heather thickets. Mop - coarse acidic humus - is formed in conditions of low biological activity, where the processes of mineralization of organic matter are inhibited. Acidophilic fungi take a predominant part in the transformation of plant residues, with very low activity of invertebrate animals. Under these conditions, thick litter accumulates, in which three subhorizons are clearly distinguished:
A0L - plant remains that have retained their morphology;
A0F - semi-decomposed plant remains intertwined with fungal hyphae;
A0H is an amorphous organic substance that is almost not associated with the mineral part of the soil.
The C value: N for mora type humus is always more than 20, often 30-40. Contact with the mineral part of the soil is very weak.
For soils formed under anaerobic conditions, Duchaufour distinguishes three types of humus: calcium peat, acid peat and anmoor. The first two types are actually similar to the peat horizons of soils in lowland and raised bogs. Term "anmoor" introduced by Kubiena to characterize the organic matter of soils with variable moisture content, gleyed and gleyed soils. Aquatic fauna during the period of water saturation and aerobic fauna during the period of aerobiosis take part in the formation of anthmoor. The relatively high biological activity explains the good mixing of organic and mineral substances. The degree of humification is weak - less than 30% of the organic matter is humified. The C:N value is more than 20. At the same time, the contact of humified substances with the mineral part of the soil is quite close. Types of humus are in turn divided into a number of subtypes.
Based on the above classification of humus types, it is possible to decipher microforms of organic matter in soil thin sections.

Humus content in soils, its types, role in soil formation and fertility (calculation of humus reserves in soils and their assessment according to Orlov)

Each soil consists of organic, mineral and organomineral complex compounds. Organic compounds in the soil are formed as a result of the vital activity of plants, animals and microorganisms. Undecomposed remains of plants and animals, which are visible in a soil sample with the naked eye or under a magnifying glass, account for 5-10% of the total organic matter content of the nonliving phase of most soils. Some of them completely decompose to carbon dioxide, water and simple salts in mineralization processes. The other part is converted into complex specific organic substances called humic substances. The totality of specific and nonspecific organic substances, plant and animal remains of varying degrees of decomposition, except those that have not yet lost their tissue structure, is called humus or humus.

Humus is the main part of soil organic matter, which has completely lost the features of the anatomical structure of organisms. Humus determines soil fertility, and not only its quantitative content in the soil is important, but also its qualitative composition.

Humus consists of 2 large groups of substances:

1) nonspecific organic compounds that can be isolated from the soil, identified and quantified (sugars, amino acids, proteins, organic bases, tannins, organic acids, etc.). In the majority mineral soils constitute units of percent of the total content of organic matter;

2) specific humus compounds - the most characteristic specific part, constituting approximately 80-90% of the total organic matter content in most mineral soils.

Humic substances are a mixture of high-molecular nitrogen-containing organic compounds of different composition and properties, united by a common origin, some properties and structural features. Humic substances are divided into solubility and extractability large groups: fulvic acids (FA), humic acids (HA) and humin; sometimes a special group of hisatomelanic acids is isolated.

Fulvic acids are the most soluble group of humic compounds, with high mobility and significantly lower molecular weights than the weighted average molecular weights of humic substances in general. Fulvic acids are lighter in color than substances from other groups. They predominate in podzolic soils, red soils, some tropical soils, and gray soils.

Humic acids are a group of humic compounds insoluble in mineral and organic acids. They have on average higher molecular weights, increased carbon content (up to 62%), and a less pronounced acidic character. They predominate in chernozems, chestnut soils, sometimes in gray forest soils and well-cultivated soddy-podzolic soils.

Humin is the non-extractable part of humus. It is represented by two types of compounds: humic substances, most strongly associated with clay minerals (clay-humus humin); partially decomposed plant remains that have lost their anatomical structure and are enriched with the most stable components, primarily lignin (detrital humin)

Hymatomelanic acids are a group of humic substances with properties intermediate between fulvic acids and humic acids. Previously included in the group of humic acids. They differ from the latter in solubility in polar organic solvents and other properties.

The humus content in the upper horizons of different soils varies widely - from 0.5-1 to 10-12% or more. Agricultural use in conditions of low farming standards leads to a decrease in the level of humus content. The ratio between humic and fulvic acids determines the qualitative characteristics of humus different types soil Usually, first of all, the ratio of the carbon of humic acids to the carbon of fulvic acids is taken into account. In the case when this ratio is less than 1, humus is called fulvate, and when the ratio is greater than 1, humate. In natural soil formation, a pattern emerges according to which, under the most favorable conditions of humus accumulation, humus is formed, relatively enriched in humic acids (chernozems, humus soils). The development and cultivation of soils in some cases usually have an ambiguous effect on the type of humus, changing its qualitative composition.

Humus reserves in the soil determine the level of its potential and effective fertility. Humus reserves in the soil are usually expressed in tons per hectare (t/ha) and calculated in the 0-20 (arable) and 0-100 cm layer.

GR (t/ha) = humus (%) h d,

where humus (%) is the humus content in the soil layer, %;

h - thickness (thickness) of the soil layer, cm;

d is the density of the soil layer, g/cm3.

Table 15. Estimation of humus reserves in the soil (according to D.S. Orlov, L.A. Grishina)

I. Meadow-chernozem soils:

Table 16. Calculation of humus reserves in meadow-chernozemic soils

Horizon	Depth, cm

Humus reserves in the arable layer (0-20 cm) are very high.

Humus reserves in the meter layer (0-100 cm) are high.

Meadow-chernozem soils are high-humus. They are characterized by deep penetration of humus along the profile, the content of which gradually decreases.

II. Podzolized chernozems:

Table 17. Calculation of humus reserves in podzolized chernozems

Horizon	Depth, cm

Humus reserves in the arable layer (0-20 cm) are high.

Humus reserves in a meter layer (0-100 cm) are average.

Podzolized chernozems are high and medium humus. The change in humus content along the profile occurs more smoothly in them than in meadow-chernozemic soils.

The concept " humus“Relatively recently it came into use for the average summer resident. Just a few decades ago, no one had any idea what it was or what it was needed for. However, this concept was already widely known among scientists and agronomists. In our article we will try to understand this term and find out as much as possible about its effect on plants.

I think every farmer (or amateur gardener) would like to have a healthy, fertile soil. It is the humus content that is the very indicator of the fertility of your soil. Thanks to the process of humification, humic substances are formed. Humification is a complex process as a result of which organic matter decomposes in the soil.

It is formed due to the remains of animal, plant and microbial origin. A huge contribution to its creation is made by the “inhabitants” of the soil: worms, beetles, woodlice. In agriculture, the most important source of its formation is fertilizers applied to the soil and crop residues. It is formed through the process of decay. In other words, humus is humus.

Soil is classified according to its humus content. Its amount in the soil is determined by comparing it in dry and wet states. Thanks to this method, it is possible to distinguish 4 types of soil: low-humus, moderate-humus, medium-humus, humus soils.

Types of humus

Low humus - the soil is light gray in color; when wet, the color of this soil will be gray and brown. This soil contains no more than 1-1.5% humus

Moderately humus - distinguished by gray or gray-brown color, moist soil will change color to dark gray or dark brown. in such soil does not exceed 2-2.5%

Medium humus - color from dark gray to dark brown, moist soil - almost black. This soil contains about 3-4%

Humus soils are black in color; when moistened, they can turn brownish-black. Such a grant will contain at least 4 - 8%. Such a high percentage of content suggests that this is most likely black soil. It is this type of soil that is most favorable for growing all kinds of vegetation.

Humus: basic properties

It is in it that all useful substances and microelements accumulate.

It contains a certain substance (humic acid), thanks to which root systems develop.

Thanks to the process of decomposition and the release of carbon dioxide from the soil, plants breathe

Promotes soil structure strength

Humus soils with a high content of organic substances affect the absorption properties of the soil (its fertility will depend on the absorption properties of the soil).

It is in it that the most beneficial microorganisms develop, which, in turn, become food for plants

Due to their black color, humus soils warm up better than others, absorb and retain heat.

What determines the amount of humus in the soil and how to replenish it?

Its content in the soil directly depends on the organic fertilizers and plant residues entering the soil. Organic fertilizers include: manure, composts, bird droppings, turf soil, etc. In order to provide your soil with sufficient humus content, it is worth systematically adding manure or peat-manure composts. The optimal ratio is 200 kg per hectare of land.

They can be either slowly decomposing or quickly decomposing.

Slowly decomposing organic fertilizers include manure, composts, etc. It is slowly decomposing organic fertilizers that can enrich the soil with it by 30, or even more, percent.

Quickly decomposing organic fertilizers include: bird droppings, mullein, and slurry. Quickly decomposing organic fertilizers are not so powerful “enrichers” of the soil, however, they should not be neglected. They will serve as excellent feeding. Quickly decomposing organic fertilizers will provide your plants with the necessary microelements and will help activate the work of microorganisms in the soil.

Unfortunately, the humus content in the soil is not constant. The formation of harvests of certain crops leads to its collapse. Digging and loosening of the soil negatively affects its content in the soil. If you want to maintain its optimal level in the soil, you should regularly and systematically add organic fertilizers to the soil, while not forgetting about fertilizing. Also, the process of its formation can accelerate the alternation of dryness and moisture of the earth.

Is the basis vital energy soil, so don’t forget to feed and fertilize your soil, because the more of it there is in the ground, the better the plants will develop in it.

Tatyana Kuzmenko, member of the editorial board, correspondent of the online publication "AtmAgro. Agro-industrial Bulletin"

Many gardeners have heard about such fertilizer as humus, but few know exactly how to use such fertilizer for personal plot. Due to the content of various useful microelements in humus, it is widely used by gardeners, which can significantly improve productivity, improving the condition of the soil on the site.

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Definition of the concept

Humus is a whole complex of nitrogen compounds that arose due to the mineralization of various plant residues under the influence of natural enzymes. To put it simply, this is humus, which is obtained through long-term processing of various vegetation in the soil. This fertilizer is extremely effective; it contains various nitrogen compounds that are necessary for the growth and fruiting of vegetables and fruits.

The formation of humus would be impossible without various microorganisms and earthworms that live in the soil. Thanks to the vital activity of earthworms, such a substrate is enriched with all kinds of useful substances, acquiring its special value. The formation of humus in compost occurs under certain conditions, including minimal access to oxygen and high humidity levels. That is why, if you prepare humus yourself in a compost pit, you must cover it on top with a layer of earth 50-70 centimeters thick.

Such a natural fertilizer will contain various humic acids, which are necessary for the full development of various plants. The substrate also contains fulvic acids, which are extremely rare in nature, so it will be difficult to obtain such a microelement from ordinary humus and rotted manure.

Such a substrate is not only an excellent fertilizer, but also a kind of filter that adsorbs harmful compounds from the soil. Therefore, the use of humus on the site will allow you to grow an environmentally friendly crop with excellent taste characteristics. This is especially appreciated by those gardeners who maintain exclusively clean, environmentally friendly Agriculture without using any chemicals in the garden.

Gumus can be identified by its characteristic dark brown color. . Determination of humus in soil can be carried out by smell; such fertilizer has the smell of rotted leaves and earth. However, depending on the prevailing soil, humus can have different moisture content and smell like peat or humus.

Soil classification

Depending on the content in the soil Such organic substrate is usually divided into four types of soil:

Low-humus.
Moderately humus.
Medium humus.
Humus soils.

The first type of soil contains a humus layer with no more than 1% of such a nutrient substrate. But in humus soils, the amount of such processed humus can reach 5%, which makes it possible to ensure excellent yields of grown garden crops. Note that in chernozem the amount of nutrient substrate reaches 15 percent.

Using humus

The composition of humus includes various microelements and nitrogen, so this fertilizer is popular in gardening, making it possible to improve productivity in a personal plot. Use of such additives allows you to significantly improve the structure of the soil, completely changing its chemical composition.

Such fertilizing can be applied by the gardener to the soil from the outside, or it can form naturally in the soil. You can increase the gumus content in the soil in the following four ways:

Incorporate nutrient substrate into the soil on a regular basis.
Create your own reserves of such fertilizer.
Conditions are created in the soil for the development of microorganisms and worms.
Crop rotation is taken into account, correctly alternating the crops grown in the beds.

It is not difficult to obtain gumus on your own plot. It is necessary to dig a large hole where various food waste, uprooted weeds, fallen leaves and crop waste are placed. Compost will soon form here., which will be processed by worms and various soil microorganisms. Subsequently, the processed substrate can be added to the soil in the beds, significantly improving soil fertility.

Directly incorporating humus into the soil is not difficult. The substrate must be evenly embedded in the top layer of soil, spending approximately square meter beds about 5 kilograms of such nutrient substrate. The use of this natural fertilizer shows excellent results when growing fruit trees and shrubs. Therefore, we can recommend that you use gumus when planting perennial plants and trees, improving soil characteristics and providing fruit crops the nutrition they need.

Humus is an organic substrate containing large amounts of nitrogen and other microelements beneficial to plants. Such a substrate is formed through the natural processing of various plants and biological residues by soil organisms.