Mon Prof Augmenté
Leaf Litter to Humus
Age 18 · Environmental Science
Fallen leaves pile up on the forest floor, where soil animals and microbes chew and digest them. The leftovers turn into dark humus, and the nutrients released are taken up again by tree roots.
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In the picture
- A fallen leaf: whole plant litter lying on the surface
- An earthworm: a soil animal chewing and mixing the litter
- A millipede: a litter feeder breaking leaves into smaller pieces
- Fungal threads: a microbe network digesting leaf tissue
- A fine root tip: absorbing nutrients dissolved in the humus
Examples
- A garden compost bin where vegetable scraps turn into dark soil
- A layer of mulch that disappears under fallen leaves within a season
Key takeaways
- The matter in leaves is not lost, it is recycled into nutrients.
- Without soil animals and microbes, litter would pile up instead of breaking down.
Quiz: Leaf Litter to Humus (Age 18)
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According to the card, what happens to the matter in fallen leaves as they break down?
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What would happen to leaf litter without soil animals and microbes?
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How do tree roots take up the nutrients released in humus?
The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.
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