Humus build-up in the garden: this is how it helps the climate

Anyone who builds up hummus in the garden contributes to climate protection. We explain how humus build-up helps CO₂ to reduce and how to promote humus in the garden.

Soils are huge stores of carbon. They do this by forming a layer of humus that is largely made up of carbon compounds. But the build-up of humus in the garden and agriculture not only helps the climate by reducing CO₂ is bound. Humus in the garden also promises fertile soil and thus vital plants. Reason enough for us to inform you about the formation of humus in the garden and for organic fertilizer and climate-friendly potting soil to inspire.

Why Humus Helps, CO₂ to absorb?

humus arises when biomass of plants or animals dies and has been decomposed. All of these living things that can become humus are mostly made of carbon. It is therefore possible to store and accumulate carbon in the form of humus in our soils.

This is how biomass becomes fertile humus:

1. During photosynthesis, plants fix carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air and use it to build up their plant bodies.
2. Herbivores devour these plants and absorb usable carbon compounds in order to build up body mass from them as well.
3. Carnivores may devour these herbivores and recycle the carbon for their own use.
4. If the carnivore – or the herbivore or even the plant – dies, it is first decomposed by various organisms.
5. Not everything, but a large part of the carbon bound in the body can be converted by soil organisms in such a way that humic substances are formed.
6. Humic substances are the basis for humus, which makes our soil fertile and productive.

If the formation of humus in the soil is promoted and its decomposition reduced, carbon is continuously transported into the soil, stored there and thus withdrawn from the atmosphere. However, under certain conditions, the humus in the soil can be broken down again quickly. In this case, the valuable humic substances evaporate into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide.

Expert Fact: Soils worldwide store about 2,400 gigatons (i.e. 2,400,000,000,000 tons) of carbon and therefore more than all living plants or other living things combined - and also significantly more than the atmosphere contains. Only the sea stores significantly more carbon: around 38,000 gigatons. Under no circumstances should the world's oceans absorb more carbon, otherwise they will become even more acidic and the underwater world will become unbalanced. For this reason, our soils are an important key to slowing down climate change.

What are the consequences of humus degradation?

The consequences of humus degradation are the increase in CO₂– atmospheric content and a loss of soil fertility. The humus content of the soil represents a dynamic variable: humus is built up and broken down at the same time. The levels can remain stable, rise or fall. However, in modern agriculture and in the course of draining peatlands to extract peat, more humus tends to be broken down and converted back into carbon dioxide (CO₂) transformed than newly formed. This is a problem because additional CO₂ in the atmosphere further promotes climate change. In addition, the loss of humus for the soil is a sad matter: the "black gold" serves as an important source of nutrients and Water reservoir, offers a home for a number of soil organisms, loosens the structure and prepares an optimal basis for plant growth. Soils with a low humus content produce lower yields simply because they are less fertile.

This promotes the build-up of humus in the garden

If you do that Humus build-up in your own garden promote, do the environment and yourself a favor. Who doesn't want fertile, healthy soil?

Use of peat-free or low-peat potting soil

A simple and effective way to start is to use it peat-free or peat-reduced potting soil. Despite their small surface area, peatlands store about a third of all carbon near the ground. Draining them for peat releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air. Some responsible earth works rely on careful mining, rewetting of the areas or even cultivation of the moor-forming sphagnum-Mosses. In this way, Moore can be revived and continue her work as CO₂-Resume sink. what is peat actually? You can find out more about this in our special article.

Notice: Our Plantura organic soils are peat-free, our lawn soil is peat-reduced. All of our soils are made from 100% natural raw materials and are approved for organic farming. In our Plantura shop Find out more about our organic soils.

Organic fertilization and composting to build up the humus layer

Another simple and important step is to switch to primarily organic fertilizers such as our Plantura organic fertilizers. Organic fertilizers provide your plants with all the essential nutrients and micronutrients over a long period of time. At the same time, they care for the soil and soil life, so that the formation of humus is promoted. A particularly economical way to produce humus is to purchase your own composter. In this, your organic waste is transformed into a valuable fertilizer and soil conditioner at low cost - you just have to be patient. You can then even create your own Mix compost – we would be happy to show you how.

Build up humus in the garden with the right humus economy

In our Special article on humus management we will explain to you in detail about the targeted build-up of hummus. There you will find out what influence the vegetation on the soil, the nutrient supply and cultivation have on the humus content of your soil.

Summary: How do you promote humus build-up in the garden?

• Peat-free or low-peat potting soil use
• Mainly organic fertilizers use
• Own compost produce
• humus with the right humus economy accumulate in the soil