Abstract

Soil organic matter (SOM) is essential to maintaining soil quality and providing numerous ecosystem services. Its magnitude in soil depends on climate, soil properties, terrain characteristics, vegetation, and landscape position. Its concentration is more in soils of cooler and humid than warmer and dry climates. There are numerous cost-effective and nondestructive methods of determination of SOM. Its magnitude and dynamics can be modeled and related to several index properties. Managing SOM is essential for advancing food security, mitigating climate change, improving water quality, and enhancing biodiversity.