Humuszos

Humuszos is a term derived from the Hungarian noun humusz (humus) with the adjectival suffix -os, and is used to describe soils or materials that contain a relatively high proportion of humus. In ecological and agricultural contexts humuszos denotes dark, organic-rich horizons that contribute to soil fertility, structure and moisture retention.

Humus forms through the decomposition of plant and animal residues by soil organisms, producing stable organic compounds and humic substances. Humuszos soils typically exhibit improved aggregation and aeration, enhanced cation-exchange capacity, and greater ability to supply nutrients to plants compared with mineral-dominated soils. These properties make humuszos material desirable in gardening, crop production and restoration projects, where composts, mulches or organic amendments are applied to increase organic matter content.

The concept is related to terms such as humus, humic substances, loam and topsoil. Management practices that maintain or increase humus content include reduced tillage, cover cropping and organic amendments, while intensive cultivation, erosion and peat extraction can reduce organic matter levels. Humus-rich soils also play a role in carbon sequestration and influence soil biodiversity, hydrology and greenhouse gas dynamics. The word is primarily used in Hungarian-language discourse but corresponds to widely used descriptions of organic-rich soils in soil science.