Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store
seo-qna
SearchIcon
banner

Sequence of humification and mineralisation is:
A. Dead organic matter → Litter → Duff →Humus → Minerals
B. Humus → Minerals → Litter → Duff
C. Minerals → Humus → Litter → Duff
D. Dead organic matter → Duff → Litter →Minerals → Humus

Answer
VerifiedVerified
311.1k+ views
Hint: The binding of soil particles together is facilitated by humus. Because humification maintains the ideal pH of the soil, it is crucial for the development of microorganisms. Both the soil's organic content and fertility are enhanced by it.

Complete step by step solution:
Humification is the process of creating humus. Amorphous and dark in colour, humus is created when microbes break down dead and decaying organic matter.
Mineralization is distinct from humification. As the name suggests, inorganic nutrients are recycled during mineralization. Inorganic compounds are created by further breakdown of organic materials.
Organic materials are converted into stable organic polymers during the humification process, which prevents further microbial decomposition and ensures that humus is retained.
The term "mineralization" in soil science describes the process by which microbes break down organic matter to liberate nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, and other inorganic substances that are easily digested by plants.
The rate of mineralization is influenced by a number of variables, including:
-The soil's mineral makeup and level of organic matter
-Temperature, pH, and the soil's water content
-Type of soil
-An acidic environment slows down the mineralization process.
-The rate of mineralization changes with the seasons and rises in warm environments.
Because nitrogen-fixing bacteria are present in the root nodules of leguminous plants, the process of mineralization is accelerated.

So correct option is A.
Dead organic matter → Litter → Duff →Humus → Minerals

Note:
Humification. It is the method by which streamlined debris is transformed into the amorphous, dark-colored humus (humic compounds) in the soil. Comparatively speaking, mineralization is a slower process. Mineralization. It is the transformation of inorganic nutrients—minerals—available to plants from organically bound nutrients. Decomposers that live in soil and eat humus carry out this gradual process.