Mineral
Transformation
in
Soil
The
term
soil
generally
refers
to
the
loose
material
of
the
earth
surface
and
is
the
region
that
supports
plant
life.
It
consists
of
five
major
components
such
as
mineral
matter,
water,
air,
organic
matter
and
living
organisms.
The
living
organisms
include
bacteria,
fungi,
actinomycetes,
algae
and
protozoa.
The
proportion
of
these
components
varies
with
soil
type
and
other
soil
conditions.
The
mineral
fraction
which
results
mostly
from
the
decay
of
rock
material
consists
of
half
of
the
volume
and
the
living
portion
of
the
soil
constitutes
about
one
percent
of
the
total
volume.
These
components
are
in
definite
but
finite
amounts
and
to
maintain
their
level
it
is
essential
that
they
undergo
a
regular
process
of
recycling.
This
process
of
recycling
through
various
transformations
is
brought
about
by
different
microorganisms
The
major
elements
essential
for
plant
growth
are
C,
H,
0,
N,
P
and
K.
Of
these,
the
last
three
are
always
in
limiting
quantities.
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