Soil is one of the main sources of human life and nature as important as water and air. One of the main methods of increasing the productivity of the soil is to keep the nutrients contained in it in a balanced way. Necessary fertilization activities should be carried out according to the plant varieties to be produced.

Accredited laboratories also carry out the determination of organic matter within the framework of soil measurements and analysis. In this way, analysis studies are carried out and the fertilizer options are given to the farmers as a report. The results of the analysis include fertilizer recommendations based on organic matter, pH, lime, phosphorus, potassium, total salt contents and amounts of the soils produced.

Walkley-Black Method is generally used for the determination of organic matter in the soil carried out by laboratories. In this method, the soil is treated with potassium dichromate and sulfuric acid and the organic carbon contained in it is oxidized by chromate and the amount of oxidized carbon in the soil is determined.

Organic matter refers to the remains of animals and plants in the soil. The humus formed by the breakdown of these regulates the physical properties of the soil on the one hand, while the nutrients in the structure of the organic matter become beneficial to the plants. Organic materials help keep nutrients and water useful for the plant in the soil. Soil gains nutritive power and becomes fertile.

In this respect, organic substances have two benefits:

• To ensure the retention of water and nutrients in light soils
• To regulate the soil structure in heavy soils, improve soil aeration and facilitate soil processing

 

Organic substances are also the source of life for living beings in the soil. Soil has increased its microbial activity and provides a better product from the soil.