Soil Quality
Fact Sheets - Organic Carbon
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Summary
The term organic is used to describe materials relating to or derived from living organisms. The amount of organic matter in a soil is often used as an indicator of the potential sustainability of a system. Soil organic matter plays a key role in nutrient cycling and can help improve soil structure.
Carbon makes up approximately 50% and nitrogen 0.5 to 10% (dependent on residue type) of the molecules in organic matter; some of which turns over rapidly (labile fraction) and is available to plants, whilst other more recalcitrant forms contribute to the stable (passive, slow turnover fractions) organic pools. Soil micro-organisms mineralise organic matter to obtain carbon, nitrogen and other nutrients for their own metabolism and growth.
