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Garden with Insight v1.0 Help: Soil daily organic matter group


Mulch residue: The amount of dead plant residue on the surface of this soil patch. Mulch comes from dead plants and soil amendments such as straw, and moves into flat residue in the top soil layer with rainfall. Mulch is dug into the soil when the soil is mixed.

Mulch depth: The depth of the mulch on this soil patch. Mulch depth is derived from the amount (mass) of mulch by a simple relationship based on an assumed constant mulch bulk density of 1.0.

Mulch N as fresh organic : The amount of fresh organic nitrogen in the flat residue and live microbial biomass found in the mulch on the surface of this soil patch. Some of this fresh organic N is carried down into the top soil layer during rainfall and when the soil is mixed.

Mulch P as fresh organic : The amount of fresh organic phosphorus in the flat residue and live microbial biomass found in the mulch on the surface of this soil patch. Some of this fresh organic P is carried down into the top soil layer during rainfall and when the soil is mixed.

Flat residue by layer: Flat residue is dead plant matter mixed in with each soil layer (as opposed to standing dead residue, which is dead plants that are still standing). 'Fresh organic' N and P are found in the flat residue and in soil microbes.

Undecayed dead plant matter (in organic matter blobs) on this soil patch: The amount of dead plant biomass on this soil patch in the form of organic matter blobs, which result from pulling up or harvesting a plant.

Flat residue newly decayed from organic matter blobs today: The amount of flat residue added to the mulch on top of this soil patch today from decay of organic matter blobs (from pulled or harvested plants). Mulch flat residue in time moves into flat residue in the top soil layer.

Flat residue lost in eroded soil today: The amount of flat residue lost in the soil eroded by water and wind erosion today.

Flat residue decomposed to atmosphere today: The total amount of flat residue from all soil layers that decomposed today and was lost in release of gas to the air.

Flat residue decomposed to organic matter today: The total amount of flat residue from all soil layers that decomposed today into organic matter in each soil layer.

Organic matter lost in eroded soil today: The amount of organic matter lost with soil eroded by water and/or wind today.

Organic matter change from mineralization today: The net amount of organic matter change through mineralization today. Mineralization of active organic N reduces organic matter by breakdown of organic N compounds. Mineralization of fresh organic N adds to organic matter through death of soil microbes.

Organic matter by layer: The amount of stable organic matter (humus) in each soil layer. In order of increasing decomposition, the organic components in the soil layers go: plant standing dead residue, soil flat residue, soil organic matter, soil minerals in solution.

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Updated: March 10, 1999. Questions/comments on site to webmaster@kurtz-fernhout.com.
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