Decomposition for Kids What will go under the process decomposition on Earth? Living things. These include all plant and animal matter which involve in decomposition. E.g. – A log was once the trunk of a tree. Now it is dead and decaying. Mushrooms, type of a fungus, decomposing a log

Why the Earth is not covered with the bodies of dead animals and plants?

The nature has a way of disposing (transferring to another) of dead things. There are some tiny living things that feed on dead animals and plants bodies. Therefore, the dead animal and plant bodies gradually start to go under the process, decomposition. So, the Earth is not covered with the bodies of dead animals and plants.

What is meant by d ecomposition ?

This is the process by which living things are broken down into a much simpler form of matter. Also, we call this rotting or decaying away.

Do you know that shortly after death, bodies of living things begin to decompose?

E.g.- Decaying vegetables is a very good example for decomposing

decomposers What are

Decomposers are the organisms that feed on dead plants and animals. Decomposers are the last link on the food chain.



Examples of decomposers



1) Bacteria

2) Fungi (singular- Fungus)

3) Algae

4) Lichen

How do decomposers decompose dead plants and animals?

First decomposers such as bacteria and fungi produce a liquid that slowly dissolves the dead plant or animal they are feeding on. Then they absorb this liquid back into themselves. However, it can take a long time for a large plant or animal to be decomposed away than dead leaves.



The 3 main factors that affect the rate of decay are;



moisture

temperature

amount of available oxygen

What are helpful to decomposers in the process of decomposition?

Invertebrate animals (animals without a backbone) such as Woodlice, millipedes, earthworms. These invertebrate animals break up the dead leaves on the floor of a wood into small pieces.

Why is decomposition very important in our environment?

1) Earth won’t be covered with the bodies of dead animals and plants.

2) Decomposers return the energy and nutrients of the dead bodies to the environment.

Decaying away



Examples of decaying away



1) Stale bread and fruits go brown or mouldy (Covered with or smelling of mould) when it starts to decay.

2) Many deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter. The piles of dead leaves on the ground soon begin to decay away.

E.g. – 1) You can see the skeletons of leaves of a tree left on the ground.

2) Fallen logs feel soft and crumbly where they are decaying away.

Microorganisms

microorganisms What are

Micro-organisms are very tiny living things that can be seen only with a microscope.

What is the other name given to microorganisms?

Microbes

What are the examples for microorganisms or microbes?

1) Bacteria

2) Fungi

3) Viruses

What are germs?

Germs are micro-organisms that cause diseases and make us ill.

Where can microorganisms live?

Micro-organisms can live all around us, in the air, in our bodies and in water.

Are all microorganisms harmful?

Some micro-organisms are harmful to us, but others are helpful to us.



Examples of fungi that can be seen without a microscope



1) Mushrooms

2) Toadstools

3) The moulds that grow on stale bread and rotting fruits (we can notice them only if lots of them are growing together)

Mushrooms – Some mushrooms are edible. There are many colourful kinds of fungi which are poisonous, although they do help materials to decay away, but you cannot eat them.

Moulds – Moulds are small fungi, which cause bread and other organic materials to decay away.

Compost

What is compost?

Compost is a mixture of decomposing matter. It improves the quality of soil and makes soil fertile.

How can we make use of the bacteria and fungi that decompose waste material?

By making a compost heap



Examples of the best materials to make compost



Soft matter such as:

1) Grass mowing

2) Dead leaves

3) Tea leaves

4) Straw (hay)

5) Vegetable and fruit peelings

How is compost made?

The waste material pile is built by layering different kinds of waste in a bin. There are spaces between the layers for air to circulate (move around the bin). Also, the waste material pile needs heat for rotting and killing all unwanted organisms. The material decays faster if the, heap is turned and mixed up every few weeks. After a month or two the compost heap becomes a pile of crumbly, dark material called compost. The compost is then applied to plants as a fertilizer.

What is ‘humus’?

The decayed plant and animal material in the soil.

How is humus formed?

If compost is dug into the soil, it will form humus.

How is humus important?

1) It improves the soil texture.

2) It slowly decomposes away to form mineral salts that plants can use as food.