Introduction

Why do we care so much about soil organic matter? Is it some vague favorable connection with organic farming? What does the term “organic” mean in a scientific sense? Fortunately, our instinct that soil organic matter is a good thing is well-founded. Under most circumstances, soils with more organic matter are superior to those with less. The reasons for this may not always be the same, but that only makes it all the more important to understand as many of the implications of soil organic matter content as possible.