When organic material is added to the soil, the mineralization process begins, and different types of soil microorganisms begin to break down the organic material. Mineralization releases these nutrients into the soil in forms that plants can absorb for growth and development. Many of the elements in organic materials are plant nutrients, but they are locked up in the molecular structure of the substance and are unavailable to plants. In a nutshell, it means that soil microbes break down organic materials into compounds or ions that plants can use. Mineralization is the transformation of organic compounds found in organic materials into inorganic compounds. Mineralization-Breakdown Of Organic Materials To Release Nutrients An illustration describing the interaction of some microbial processes within the soil, plant, and atmosphere. Some of these important microbially mediated processes are described in this guide: mineralization of the soil organic matter (breakdown of organic materials to release nutrients), immobilization (temporary tying up of nutrients by microbes, thus limiting their availability to plants), nitrogen fixation (conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to forms that crops can use), nitrification (conversion of the ammonium form of nitrogen to nitrate-nitrogen), denitrification (loss of nitrate-nitrogen in the soil through microbial conversion to nitrogen gas), and mycorrhizal associations (the interaction of beneficial soil fungi with plants) (Figure 1).įigure 1. These biological processes affect nutrient cycling and availability, soil aggregation, organic matter decomposition, and crop performance. The soil is home to a variety of microorganisms involved with different processes that enable it to support crop production sustainably. John Idowu, Nicole Pietrasiak, and Mikaela HoellrichĬollege of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State UniversityĪuthors: Respectively, Extension Agronomist, Department of Extension Plant Sciences Assistant Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PES) and Research Assistant, PES, New Mexico State University.
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