What is the role of organic matter in soil?

Organic matter plays a crucial role in enhancing soil quality and health, and its benefits are evident through various functions it serves in the soil ecosystem. It is essential for improving soil structure by binding soil particles together, which promotes a better aggregation of soil. This aggregation leads to increased porosity and aeration in the soil, allowing for improved water infiltration and root penetration.

Additionally, organic matter significantly enhances nutrient retention in the soil. It has a high cation exchange capacity, meaning it can hold onto essential nutrients such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium, preventing them from leaching away and making them more available for plant uptake. This contributes directly to increased soil fertility over time.

Moreover, organic matter serves as a habitat and food source for a diverse range of microorganisms. These microbes are vital for healthy soil ecosystems, as they aid in the decomposition of organic materials, release nutrients in forms that plants can absorb, and help in the cycling of nutrients.

The other options do not accurately reflect the vital functions of organic matter in soil. It does not decrease soil fertility but rather enhances it; it does not predominantly serve herbivores as a food source; and it does not make the soil more compact—instead, it improves its structure and makes it looser and