- Why does hummus help absorb CO2?
- What are the consequences of humus degradation?
- How to promote humus build-up in the garden
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Who builds humus in the garden, contributes to climate protection. We explain how humus formation helps to reduce CO2 and how to promote humus in the garden.
Soils are huge stores of carbon. They do this by forming a layer of humus that is largely made up of carbon compounds. But the build-up of humus in the garden and in agriculture not only helps the climate by binding CO2. Humus in the garden also promises fertile soil and thus vital plants. Reason enough for us to inform you about the formation of humus in the garden and to get you excited about organic fertilizers and climate-friendly potting soil.
Why does hummus help absorb CO2?
Humus is formed when biomass from plants or animals dies and has been decomposed. All of these living things that can become humus are mostly made of carbon. It is therefore possible to store and accumulate carbon in the form of humus in our soils.
This is how biomass becomes fertile hummus:
- Plants fix carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air during photosynthesis and use it to build their plant bodies.
- Herbivores eat these plants and absorb usable carbon compounds to also build up body mass.
- Carnivores may devour these herbivores and recycle the carbon for their own use.
- If the carnivore dies - or the herbivore or even the plant - it is first decomposed by various organisms.
- Not all, but a large part of the carbon bound in the body can be converted by soil organisms in such a way that humic substances are formed.
- Humin substances are the basis for humus, which makes our soil fertile and productive.
If the formation of humus in the soil is promoted and its decomposition reduced, carbon is continuously transported into the soil, stored there and thus withdrawn from the atmosphere. However, under certain conditions, the humus in the soil can be broken down again quickly. In this case, the valuable ones evaporateHumic substances are released into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide.
Expert Fact: Soils worldwide store around 2,400 gigatons (i.e. 2,400,000,000,000 tons) of carbon and thus more than all living plants or other living things combined - and also significantly more than the atmosphere contains. Only the sea stores significantly more carbon: around 38,000 gigatons. Under no circumstances should the world's oceans absorb any more carbon, otherwise they will become even more acidic and the underwater world will become unbalanced. For this reason, our soils are an important key to slowing down climate change.
What are the consequences of humus degradation?
The consequences of humus degradation are an increase in CO2 levels in the atmosphere and a loss of soil fertility. The humus content of the soil represents a dynamic variable: humus is built up and broken down at the same time. The levels can remain stable, rise or fall. However, modern agriculture and the drainage of bogs for peat tend to decompose and convert more humus back into carbon dioxide (CO2) than is formed. This is a problem because additional CO2 in the atmosphere further promotes climate change. In addition, the loss of humus is a sad matter for the soil: The "black gold" serves as an important nutrient and water reservoir, offers a home for a number of soil organisms, loosens the structure and prepares an optimal basis for plant growth. Soils with a low humus content produce lower yields simply because they are less fertile.
How to promote humus build-up in the garden
If you promote humus growth in your own garden, you are doing yourself and the environment a favor. Who doesn't want fertile, he althy soil?
Use of peat-free or low-peat potting soil
A simple and effective way to start is by using peat-free or low-peat potting soil. Despite their small area percentage, peatlands store about a third of all carbon near the ground. Draining them for peat releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. Some responsible earth works rely on gentle mining, rewetting of the areas or even cultivation of the moor-formingSphagnum Mosses. This allows Moore to be revived and resume their work as a CO2 sink. What is peat actually? You can find out more about this in our special article.
Note: Our Plantura organic soils are peat-free, our lawn soil is peat-reduced. All of our soils are made from 100% natural raw materials and are approved for organic farming. You can find out more about our organic soils in our Plantura Shop.
Organic fertilization and composting to build up the humus layer
An equally simple and important step is to switch to primarily organic fertilizers such as our Plantura organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers provide your plants with all the essential nutrients and micronutrients over a long period of time. At the same time, they care for the soil and soil life, so that the formation of humus is promoted. A particularly economical way to produce humus is to purchase your own composter. In this, your organic waste is transformed into a valuable fertilizer and soil conditioner at low cost - you just have to be patient. You can then even mix your own compost - we're happy to show you how.
Build humus in the garden with the right humus management
In our special article on humus management, we explain in detail how to build up humus. There you will find out what influence soil vegetation, nutrient supply and cultivation have on the humus content of your soil.
Summary: How do you encourage humus growth in the garden?
- Use peat-free or low-peat potting soil
- Use mainly organic fertilizers
- Make Your Own Compost
- Enriching humus with proper humus management in the soil