Detritus is the raw material for decomposition. It includes dead remains of plants (leaves, bark and flowers) and of animals including faecal matter. It is largely an aerobic process, i.e. requires oxygen for its processing.
Different steps involved in the process of decomposition are: (i) Fragmentation is the process of breaking down of detritus into smaller particles. (ii) Leaching is the process by which water soluble inorganic nutrients go down into the soil horizons and gets precipitated as unavailable salts. (iii) Catabolism is the process of degradation of detritus into simple organic material by the action of bacterial and fungal enzymes and their further conversion into inorganic compounds. (iv) Humification is a process that leads to an accumulation of a dark coloured, amorphous and colloidal substance called humus which is highly resistant to microbial action and decompose at a very slow rate. It serves as a reservoir of nutrients. (v) Mineralisation is the process by which humus is further degraded by microbial action and release inorganic nutrients.
How is detritus decomposed step-by-step by different agents and made available as nutrients to the plants? Explain.
Answers
Namrata
Detritus is the raw material for decomposition. It includes dead remains of plants (leaves, bark and flowers) and of animals including faecal matter. It is largely an aerobic process, i.e. requires oxygen for its processing.
Different steps involved in the process of decomposition are:
(i) Fragmentation is the process of breaking down of detritus into smaller particles.
(ii) Leaching is the process by which water soluble inorganic nutrients go down into the soil horizons and gets precipitated as unavailable salts.
(iii) Catabolism is the process of degradation of detritus into simple organic material by the action of bacterial and fungal enzymes and their further conversion into inorganic compounds.
(iv) Humification is a process that leads to an accumulation of a dark coloured, amorphous and colloidal substance called humus which is highly resistant to microbial action and decompose at a
very slow rate. It serves as a reservoir of nutrients.
(v) Mineralisation is the process by which humus is further degraded by microbial action and
release inorganic nutrients.