suppose of humus as a spiritualist for nutrient that are liberate tardily into the land over time . It ’s not plant food , it ’s not compost and it ’s not dirt — so " humus fertilizer " is not a affair . In fact , even experts think it arduous to key , because its composition can vary so much .
- But hoummos is that rich , porous , organic heart that is the result of the natural decay of stagnant plants and fauna . * *
Humus in a Nutshell
Humuscouldnaturally appear in a nutshell , but of row , we ’re referring to a spry - and - easy definition of the Book . So here go :
Humus Defined
Humus hold up nutrients , sustain them from percolate out into the soil through irrigation or rainwater . Humus is particularly effective at hive away nitrogen , which is critical to foliage growth . If your garden land comprises a high level of humus , you will need to fertilize less .
Is Compost the Same as Humus?
In a way , yes , compost is the same as hummus . And some experts even use the terms simultaneously or say " humous soil , " mean the same as a compost - copious soil . But compost can be made in a affair of week , while humus drive years and sometimes even decades to form . That ’s because hommos comesaftercompost in the decomposing process .
Compost is decomposed plant and sometimes animate being , depending on the character of compost . Depending on how long it has been " cooking , " it may carry some humus , but compost has not in full break down , because microscopic survive critters , including bacterium , fungi and microbes , are still doing their thing .
Further , compost is generally create for exercise in a garden or for sale in a garden provision locating . Compost is readily available in travelling bag or deliver bulk to your fix , which is not at all true of hummus .
Can You Buy Humus?
Not really . Some producer claim to sell humus or claim something is " rich in humus , " but this usually intend that the product carry some organic affair or that it ’s primarily compost or a mixture of manure and compost .
Why Is Humus Valuable to Plants?
A soil rich in hommos is a healthy soil . Humus holds food , celebrate them from leaching out into the soil through irrigation or rainwater . Humus is specially effective at storing N , which is decisive to leafage outgrowth . If your garden soil comprises a high level of hoummos , you will need to fertilise less . In line , for example , a sandlike soil that ’s low in humus allow food to flux right on through it .
Humus is also authoritative for land texture . As constituent matter fully decomposes to become humus , soil atom are paste together into big particle that in number support a right remainder of water - arrest capacity and drainage , while oxygen can more easily reach plant root .
