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Organic matter (or organic material) is matter that has come from a recently living organism; is capable of decay, or the product of decay; or is composed of organic compounds. The definition of organic matter varies upon the subject it is being used for. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Biological material may refer to: Biological tissue, or just tissue Biomass, living or dead biological matter, often plants grown as fuel Biomass (ecology), the total mass of living biological matter Biomolecule, a chemical compound that naturally occurs in living organisms Biotic material, from living things Bio-based material, a processed... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Benzene is the simplest of the arenes, a family of organic compounds An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon and hydrogen; therefore, carbides, carbonates, carbon oxides and elementary carbon are not organic (see below for more on the definition controversy...

Soil organic matter

Soil is composed of minerals and organic matter, as well as living organisms. The minerals are derived from the weathering of cocks and dinnerals. The organic matter in soil derives from plants and animals. In a forest, for example, leaf litter and woody material falls to the forest floor. This is sometimes called organic material.[1] When it decays to the point it is no longer recognizable it is called soil organic matter. When the organic matter has broken down into a stable humic substances that resist further decomposition it is called humus. Thus soil organic matter comprises all of the organic matter in the soil exclusive of the undecayed material.[2]

Terminology

There is a lack of consistency regarding the term soil organic matter.[3] In soil science the term soil organic matter may include both decaying materials and humic substances (humus). However in agriculture, forestry[4] and other disciplines, the term humus is sometimes used to describe both soil organic matter and humic substances (humus).[5] The soil organic matter component of soil is referred to active humus and the humic substances (called humus in soil science) is called inactive humus.

Once living matter

Organic matter may refer simply to matter which was once part of a living organism or produced by a living organism. This definition is synonymous with biotic material, and would include a clam's shell and naturally produced urea, while excluding synthetically produced urea. While this definition is useful for modelling nutrient flows, it is not useful in measuring the organic content of soil. Biotic material is any natural material that originated from living organisms. ... Urea is an organic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen, with the formula CON2H4 or (NH2)2CO. Urea is also known as carbamide, especially in the recommended International Nonproprietary Names (rINN) in use in Europe. ...

Decay

Organic matter may be defined as material that is capable of decay, or the product of decay (humus), or both. Usually the matter will be the remains of recently living organisms, and may also include still-living organisms. Polymers and plastics, although they may be organic compounds, are usually not considered organic material, due to their poor ability to decompose. A clam's shell, while biotic, would not be considered organic matter by this definition because of its inability to decay. Humus is a term used to describe two different types of organic material in soil. ... Benzene is the simplest of the arenes, a family of organic compounds An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon and hydrogen; therefore, carbides, carbonates, carbon oxides and elementary carbon are not organic (see below for more on the definition controversy... Biotic material is any natural material that originated from living organisms. ...

Organic chemistry

Measurements of organic matter generally measure only organic compounds or carbon, and so are only an approximation of the level of once-living or decomposed matter. Some definitions of organic matter likewise only consider "organic matter" to refer to only the carbon content, or organic compounds, and do not consider the origins or decomposition of the matter. In this sense, not all organic compounds are created by living organisms, and living organisms do not only leave behind organic material. A clam's shell, for example, while biotic, does not contain much organic carbon, so may not be considered organic matter in this sense. Conversely, urea is one of many organic compounds that can be synthesized without any biological activity. Benzene is the simplest of the arenes, a family of organic compounds An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon and hydrogen; therefore, carbides, carbonates, carbon oxides and elementary carbon are not organic (see below for more on the definition controversy... General Name, Symbol, Number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Standard atomic weight 12. ... Benzene is the simplest of the arenes, a family of organic compounds An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon and hydrogen; therefore, carbides, carbonates, carbon oxides and elementary carbon are not organic (see below for more on the definition controversy... Biotic material is any natural material that originated from living organisms. ... Urea is an organic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen, with the formula CON2H4 or (NH2)2CO. Urea is also known as carbamide, especially in the recommended International Nonproprietary Names (rINN) in use in Europe. ...

Vitalism

The equation of "organic" with living organisms comes from the now-abandoned idea of vitalism that attributed a special force to life that alone could create organic substances. This idea was first questioned after the abiotic synthesis of urea by Friedrich Wöhler in 1828. Vitalism is the doctrine that vital forces are active in living organisms, so that life cannot be explained solely by mechanism. ... Friedrich Wöhler (July 31, 1800 - September 23, 1882) was a German chemist, best-known for his synthesis of urea, but also the first to isolate several of the elements. ...

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See also

• Biomass
• Detritus
• Humus
• Organic geochemistry
• Total organic carbon

Compare to: Switchgrass, a hardy plant used in the biofuel industry in the United States Rice chaff. ... In biology, detritus is organic waste material from decomposing dead plants or animals. ... Humus is a term used to describe two different types of organic material in soil. ... Organic geochemistry is the study of the impacts and processes that organisms, and once-living organisms have on the earth. ... TOC, Total organic carbon — The amount of carbon bound in organic compounds. ...

• Biotic material
• Biological tissue
• Biomolecule
• Cellular component
• Organic production