ABSTRACT
The native organic matter content of a soil is determined by soil type, average mean air temperature, soil moisture level, and plant cover. For cultivated soils, it is difƒcult to increase the soil organic matter content, for with cultivation and cropping, the organic matter content tends to be less than that existing before cultivating and cropping. The use of green manures can temporarily increase the organic matter content, but depending on temperature, cultivation, and soil moisture level, the organic matter content of a soil will tend to stabilize at a certain content. At what content stabilization occurs also depends on the cropping system, with low organic matter soil content stabilization occurring with row crop culture systems versus pasture or hay culture systems, or for long-term cropping systems. The range of organic matter content is between 1 and 5%, with most soils being at the 1 to 2% level.
