Humus: the most important number in your soil report

2026-09-25

Cross-section of fertile soil with a dark humus layer and roots

If you remember one number from your soil report, make it humus (organic matter). Nitrogen corrects in a season, pH in a year or two — humus takes decades to build and only years of bad practice to lose. It holds water like a sponge, feeds the crop gradually through mineralisation, keeps structure and buffers pH.

Rough orientation for Bulgarian arable land: below ~1.5% is worryingly low, 2–3% typical, above 3.5–4% rich. The direction over the years matters more than the absolute value — which is why satellite SOM maps by zone, anchored by periodic lab checks, are the practical way to watch it. See how the satellite analysis works.

Have a question about subsidies or programmes?

Ask Zemedelko