Recut stems underwater with a sharp knife and place the flowers in the vase solution you've prepared. Because of the simplicity of applying mineral fertilizers,the role of organic matter in improving garden soil and optimizing plant growth can sometimes be overlooked. When we examine soil under high magnification, we see that it is mostly composed of tiny pieces of disintegrated rock. In addition to the mineral component of soil, there is another constituent of the soil called organic matter. Organic matter, by weight, normally accounts for less than 5 percent of the soil's total mass.
Organic matter is the byproduct of the decomposition.
The remains of once-living organisms, mostly plants and animals, are food for various decomposers including insects, earthworms and numerous types of soil microbes. As the decomposition process winds down, some organic compounds remain and become a stable component of the soil. This material, called humus, is resistant to further decomposition and gives the soil a characteristic grey to black appearance. Even though it comprises a small portion of the soil's mass, organic matter has a profound effect on the soil's physical and chemical properties. It increases the soil's water and nutrient holding capacity.