4.5 Tiny Bytes: The 5% That Runs The Soil

We break down what soil organic matter really is, from living microbes to old, dark humus that can take years to form. We also explain why that small slice of soil drives soil health through better structure, nutrient cycling, and water holding capacity. We discuss • defining soil organic matter as the biological legacy of a field • connecting soil composition to the “critical” 5% organic fraction • explaining humus as a stable end product of decomposition • improving ...