Organic matter
Carbon-based compounds from organisms, vital for nutrient cycling and soil health.
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Organic matter is the large source of carbon-based compounds found in natural and engineered environments.[1] Carbon-based compounds originating from plant and animal waste and remains, along with molecules formed through non-biological chemical reactions, constitute organic matter.[1][2] Nutrient transport in the environment and planetary water retention are both significantly influenced by organic matter.[3]
Quick Facts
- Field
- Environmental science
- soil science
- ecology
- Composition
- Cellulose
- tannin
- cutin
- lignin
- proteins
- lipids
- carbohydrates
- Key process
- Decomposition by microbial and fungal activity; oxidative polymerization
Facts from the source article.
Key facts and history
Smaller degradation products can recombine through oxidative polymerization to form larger organic molecules.[4] Groundwater has its own sources of natural organic matter including kerogen, coal, and soil organic matter.[5] Soil organic matter improves the capacity of a soil to hold water and nutrients.[6] During their lifetimes, organisms release organic compounds into the surrounding environment through secretion and excretion.[4]
Microbes and fungi break down the tissues and shed materials of dead organisms.[4] A natural organic matter sample's composition is determined by its source, how it was transformed, its age, and the environment it exists in.[7] Living organisms receive nourishment from organic matter.[8] In water-based solutions, organic matter functions as a buffer, helping to keep the pH neutral.[8]
Acid rain neutralization has been suggested as a potential role for the buffering component.[8]
What the research sources say
The GreenFacts digest states that natural organic matter originates from plants and animals present in natural waters such as lakes and rivers.[9] A NASA article reports that the Curiosity rover made the first definitive detection of organic molecules on Mars.[2] The NASA team found organic molecules in a drilled sample of the Sheepbed mudstone in Gale crater.[2] The NASA team found that the organic molecules included chlorobenzene and several dichloroalkanes.[2]
References
- Wikipedia, "Organic matter" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Natural Organic Matter", GreenFacts; "NASA Goddard Instrument Makes First Detection of Organic Matter on Mars", NASA, 16 December 2014 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- "NASA Goddard Instrument Makes First Detection of Organic Matter on Mars", NASA, 16 December 2014. facts only, no text reused. nasa.gov
- Wikipedia, "Organic matter" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Sejian, "Climate Change Impact on Livestock: Adaptation and Mitigation", Springer, 31 March 2015 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Organic matter" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Piccolo, "The Supramolecular Structure of Humic Substances: A Novel Understanding of Humic Chemistry and Why It Is Important for Soil Science", Advances in Agronomy, 2002, p. 57–134 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Organic matter" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: George Aiken, "Organic Matter in Ground Water", United States Geological Survey, 2002 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Organic matter" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Crow, W. T. "Organic Matter, Green Manures and Cover Crops For Nematode Management." University of Florida. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Feb. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Organic matter" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Nicola Senesi, Baoshan Xing, and P.M. Huang, Biophysico-Chemical Processes Involving Natural Nonlifiidulfitving Organic Matter in Environmental Systems, New Yor (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Organic matter" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Steve Cabaniss, Greg Madey, Patricia Maurice, Yingping Zhou, Laura Leff, Ola Olapade, Bob Wetzel, Jerry Leenheer, and Bob Wershaw, comps, Stochastic Synthesis o (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "Natural Organic Matter", GreenFacts. facts only, no text reused. greenfacts.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Organic matter (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Organic matter (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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