There are different states of organic matter. It is not called humus while it is still being broken down. Because the humus fraction of the soil is so important and multifaceted, H.H. Koefp and others have described it as having two aspects. Effective Humus Stable Humus 1. Effective humus is decomposed and nourishes the microbic population of the soil.
Stable humus is permanent and combines with the soil minerals.
It stores available nutrients and prevents leaching. Microbial population of the soil helps to create and stabilize soil structure. Health and quality Effective humus supplies plant hormones, antibiotics, and stimulates biological activity that inhibits the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. The Formation of Humus Microbes take organic matter and convert it to longer and longer carbon chains. This is done only under ground by microbes that are very immobile.