Name: Succession in Plants
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 11 min 25 s
Description: Ecological succession is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. The time scale can be decades or even millions...

Question

Using a flowchart explain the process of decomposition. List the factors which affect this process.

Accepted Answer

The process of the breakdown of complex organic matter into a simpler inorganic matter is called decomposition. It requires oxygen for its processing. The process of decomposition completes five steps, viz., fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification and mineralisation.

Factors affecting the rate of decomposition

The factors affecting the rate of decomposition are:
( $1$ ) Chemical composition of detritus
( $2$ ) Climatic factors

( $1$ ) Chemical composition of detritus
The decomposition rate is slow if lignin and chitin is high in detritus. The rate of decomposition is faster if detritus contains nitrogen and water-soluble substances.

( $2$ ) Climatic factors

(i) Temperature
Temperature regulates the growth and activity of microbes. The high-temperature facilitates decomposition while low temperatures slow down the process.
(ii) Aeration
The oxygen present in the pores of the soil favours microbial growth. Good aeration increases oxygen supply and thus increases the rate of decomposition. In the water-logged soils, decomposition is done by anaerobic microorganisms.
(iii) Soil pH
Growth of microbes is greatly influenced by acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Different soil pH is required for optimum growth of different microbes.
(iv) Inorganic Chemicals
Lack of nutrients reduces microbial growth and it slows decomposition while the addition of nutrients increases the rate of decomposition
(v) Moisture
The water present in the soil helps in various physiological processes of soil microorganisms. Good moisture conditions are favourable for microorganisms and hence for decomposition

Using a flowchart explain the process of decomposition. List the factors which affect this process.

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