HUMID SOILS: CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES AND ANIMALS - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The peat soils are abundant surfaces harboring decomposing organic material and already decomposed. The word humiferous infers that the soil is abundant in humus, a substance composed of organic products of colloidal origin.

The microorganisms and organisms in the humus are beneficial for planting. This type of soil is especially favorable for agricultural activities. In it are the so-called annelids, which are worms that make holes and allow the soil to absorb water and minerals through the rains.

Humid soils are also known as black earth soils. The dark color is due to the pigmentation of the decomposing materials being quite dark. These soils are excellent for water retention.

Land workers think that the blacker the land, the more minerals the soil has and, therefore, it is more suitable for growing crops and plants.

The worms allow a good aceración, which is the process in which the roots adsorb the minerals and nutrients that the plant needs.

Types of humid soils

Old humid soils

They are the soils that have had a long period without being used and are in advanced degrees of decomposition.

These soils have a color ranging from purple to reddish. Inside they contain substances characteristic of humus such as humins and humic acids. Humins are molecules that have a formidable molecular weight and are formed with the union of humic acids. When they are separated from the earth, their appearance is the same as that of plasticine.

For their part, humic acids have a lower molecular weight but have a vast capacity to carry out cation exchange (CEC), a fundamental element for plants and vegetables to be able to feed on the earth.

Old or ancient humid soils have a notable physical influence on the earth since by harboring water they prevent erosion. And they serve as a storage source for highly nutritious substances.

Young humid soils

They are humid soils whose characteristics have been formed recently. These new humid soils have a lower degree of polymerization. Unlike the old ones, it is composed of humic and fulvic acids.

In new soils, humic acids help the polymerization of fulvic acids. The latter are formed when lignin breaks down.

The largest sources of humus are found in the Leonardite and Bernardite mines. However, there are sources of organic humus provided by earthworms, termites, cucarrones, among others.

The humic substances from these animals are rich in microorganisms and nutritional elements that are excellent for organic and ecological agriculture.

One of the challenges of non-polluting agriculture is precisely to produce humus and insecticides from natural techniques that preserve the environment.

In young humid soils, constant work of the earth causes the almost imminent loss of humus. This is noticeable with the naked eye when the black floors turn ocher. The ability to retain water is limited by erosion.

characteristics

Dark color: the dark color of the soil is due to the fact that as the waste decomposes it turns dark. The pigmentation of the earth is a reliable criterion to determine how much humus level the earth has in a certain territory.

They retain water well: the possibility of water retention makes it possible for the nutrients in the soil to be properly adsorbed by the roots. These soils are ideal for growing vegetables, silver and other species.

Decomposed materials abound: one of the main sources of compost is decomposed materials, the fact that they are soils that contain decomposing material makes them especially attractive to do agricultural activities.

Larvae and Worms: larvae and worms abound in these soils which, far from being harmful, provide humus and are a faithful sign that the soils are rich in humus. The worms feed on the material in deposition and on the contrary they defecate humus.

They concentrate minerals: minerals reach humid soils through rains and are concentrated there to provide even more substances favorable for planting.

Species development: in these soils any spice that is suitable to receive nutrients constantly develops, they are ideal for lettuce, corn, strawberries, among others.

Favorable places for humid soils

Mountains

Mountains are the main places where there are humid soils. This is caused by the scarce little contact that men have with her. It is common to see that large areas of land in the mountains are sown year after year by farmers.

Slopes

Because they adsorb rainwater and decomposing materials, slopes are places where high concentrations of humus are common.

Although working the land on slopes is difficult, they are seen as good opportunities to obtain good crops.

Valleys and plains

The valleys and plains where there were glaciers are places classified as humid soils par excellence, because they adsorbed all the decomposition of the marine species that existed there.

What species are ideal to plant?

Although they are first class soils to sow, it must be clarified that there are fruits and plants that require other types of soil. They are conducive to the following:

• Carrot
• Apple trees
• Pear trees
• Plums
• Cereals
• Corn
• Strawberries
• Lettuce

Chemical influence of humid soils

They regulate nutrition: these soils form a chemical balance that maintains them in constant conditions of humus concentration.

Ion exchange: the influx of ion exchange between chemicals is favored.

Potassium and phosphorus: balances the amounts of potassium and phosphorus in the soil. It also produces carbon dioxide which helps the solubility of minerals in the earth.

Nitrogenous products: these soils provide degrees of nitrogen to the earth that helps to correct any degradation that the soil may have.

References

1. Finck, A. (1988) Fertilizers and fertilization: fundamentals and methods for the fertilization of crops. Editorial Revereté. Barcelona, ​​Spain.
2. Wikipedia contributors (2017) Humus. Recovered from: wikipedia.org.
3. Huguet del Villar, E. (1949) Types of soils of special interest from no. Printed editorial fabric. Spain.
4. Ecology Today (2012) Soil types. Recovered from: ecologiahoy.com.
5. Soils of Venezuela (2012) Humid Soils. Recovered from: camposdevezuela.blogspot.com.