Biogenicorganic

Biogenicorganic is a term used to describe organic matter or compounds produced by living organisms. More commonly written as “biogenic organic matter” (BOM) or as descriptors for biogenic organic molecules, the term is used across geology, soil science, ecology, and environmental science to distinguish material of biological origin from abiotic or fossil (petrogenic) sources.

Biogenic organic materials arise from photosynthesis-derived plant litter, algal and microbial biomass, root exudates, and other biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. Through decay and microbial processing, BOM is transformed into humic substances and other complex residues in soils and sediments. In aquatic systems BOM includes algal detritus and microbial exudates that contribute to dissolved organic carbon and influence water chemistry.

Significance and analysis: BOM is a key component of the carbon and nutrient cycles, affecting soil fertility, carbon sequestration, sediment diagenesis, and the optical and chemical properties of water bodies. Researchers identify BOM using isotopic composition, elemental ratios, spectroscopy (FTIR, NMR), and biomarker lipids or other molecular indicators. The term can be imprecise, and in formal writing biogenic organic matter or specific biogenic compounds are preferred for clarity.