Organic matter protection

In sea-water systems such attack may occur under dead barnacles or shellfish, the decomposing organic matter assisting corrosion. Pitting is most likely to occur in polluted in-shore waters, particularly when hydrogen sulphide is present. In such contaminated waters non-protective sulphide scales are formed and these tend to stimulate attack. 

Products of this type seem to protect the humus from rapid incorporation into new biological processes. Additional factors that appear to be associated with the accumulation of organic matter in Mollisols are high exchange capacities, saturation with calcium, an abundance of mineral colloids and a high content of minerals of the smectite group (Fenton, 1983). 

Gregorich EG, Drury CF, Ellert BH, Liang BC (1997b) Fertilization effects on physically protected light fraction organic matter. Soil Sci Soc Am J... 

The European Thematic Strategy on Soil Protection 45% of the EU soils are poor in humus and composted biowaste could be a source of organic matter for the soils. 

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