InsightsUnveiled

Soil organic matter is one of the 3 active pools of carbon which comprises of mass-3*10(power 15)Kg comprising of 3 main fractions: a)live fractions:- includes phytomass,faunal bio-mass & microbial biomass.Faunal biomass being further subdivided into mesofaunal & microfaunal components. b)the living soil biota-micro organisms,animals & plant roots. c)resistant organic matter-chemically/physically protected.              More than 90% soil organic matter is in resistant form although there the continuous flow of carbon from one pool to another .Generally,the system is in dynamic equilibrium with the organic matter pools remaining the same more or less with time.It's chemical composotion comprise of:- 1)Multiple carboxyl,hydroxyl,carbonyl & alkyl substitutions in aromatic rings; 2)Alkyl C chains often substituted with O-containing functional groups; 3)Aroamtic & Alkyl groups linked in random sequences; 4)Protein & Carbohydrate polymers;

The term soil fertility is difficult to define precisely & is the combined product of various natural processes & management options.A fertile soil is one which is capable of producing a desired crop with favourable yeild & quality characteristics.The natural requirements for individual palnt species vary & therefore the fertility of a soil varies for individual plant species.For this,nutrient inputs & outputs must be balanced over a reasonable timescale.Removal of nutrient elements with harvested crop is a major potential cause of decline in soil fertility losses therefore should be replenished.                                                                   Natural levels of soil fertility are seldom adequate to sustain a resonable long term degree of agricultural productivity.Numerous factors influence soil's potential fertility.Of particular importance is the mineralogy of parent materials.Many of the fundamental chemical & texture related prop

soil moisture or soil water is the water present within the interstitial spaces in between soil particles held together by matrix potential .The minerals are present in colloidal state where soil moisture plays the role of dispersion medium.the hydration layer prevents the colloids from coming in contact with each other & settling down.Soil moisture in it's purest form is optically clear & transparent.A colloidal solution where soil moisture is the dispersion medium,the colloidal particles will scatter the light falling on it's surface & the scattering effect of the colloidal solution is called Tyndal Effect. name after discoverer J.Tyndal.the intensity of the scattered light depends upon the difference of the refractive index of dispersion medium & the suspended particles.                                                     soil colour is based on 3 variables: a) Hue -the dominant spectral or "rainbow" colour (Blue,Green,yellow etc.). b)

soil moisture or soil water is the water present within the interstitial spaces in between soil particles which is held by matrix potential .Soil matrix is thought of as the hierarchy of capillaries whose precise characteristics depend on- a)particle size of soil; b)organic matter content; c)nature of aggregates; d)activities of soil fauna.                                        the organic & inorganic minerals are present in colloidal state where soil moisture plays the role of dispersion medium.The hydration layer prevents the colloids from coming in contact with each other & settling down. Soil aggregates which give structure to the soil is a cluster of particles brought together by physical forces.Aggregates comprise of clay rich soil at one end of the scale & organic faceal pellets of microarthopods & casts of annalids at other ends.The stability of aggregates depends on components like:- 1) capillarity of water:- Hydrogen bonding between water