Soil Ecosystem
Description:
The carbon rich soil is comprised of decomposed bits of organic matter comprising of plants and animals called humus. This combination is what makes up the surface of our planet. This carbon is NOT taken up by plants, but it is utilized by other living micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, archaea, nematodes and protozoa, that depend on the nutrients such as carbon & nitrogen from humus, which gets converted back into Carbon Dioxide after cellular respiration. (Source)
Humus is a very chemically stable type of organic matter that contains large amounts of stored carbon that resists further decomposition. If undisturbed, it can store carbon for hundreds to thousands of years.
The carbon rich soil is comprised of decomposed bits of organic matter comprising of plants and animals called humus. This combination is what makes up the surface of our planet. This carbon is NOT taken up by plants, but it is utilized by other living micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, archaea, nematodes and protozoa, that depend on the nutrients such as carbon & nitrogen from humus, which gets converted back into Carbon Dioxide after cellular respiration. (Source)
Humus is a very chemically stable type of organic matter that contains large amounts of stored carbon that resists further decomposition. If undisturbed, it can store carbon for hundreds to thousands of years.
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