What is humus and what is its importance for soil?How can you differentiate humus from a decomposer? [3 MARKS]
Definition: 1 Mark
Stating importance: 1 Mark
Defiinition of decomposer: 1 Mark
Microorganisms in forest feed upon the dead plants and animal tissues and convert them into a darkbrown or black organic coloured substance called humus.
The presence of humus ensures that the nutrients of the dead plants and animals are released into the soil.. From there, these nutrients are again absorbed by the roots of the living plants which helps in the growth of the of the living plants.Humus also increases the ability of he soil to retain water.
Decomposers are the microorganisms that convert the dead plants and animals to humus. They are agents of this molecular decomposition.