Question

Differentiate between humification and mineralization.

Answer 1

Humification. It is the process by which simplified detritus gets converted into dark coloured amorphous substance, the humus (humic substances) in the soil. It is relatively a rapid process than mineralization. Mineralization. It is release of organically bound nutrients into an inorganic form (i.e., minerals) available to plants. This slow process is performed by decomposers existing in soil and feeding on humus (Odum and Barrett, 2005).