How Can You Quantify Organic Matter in Urban Soils?

Soil organic matter plays a vital role in retaining nutrients for plants and mitigating climate change. Urban environments exhibit irregular organic matter distribution, with low microbial activity and limited nutrient cycling. This lab aims to determine soil organic matter content using the loss-on-ignition method by weighing and igniting soil samples to calculate organic matter percentage. Field observations can help in estimating organic matter content based on soil color. Increasing organic matter is crucial for soil structure and fertility.