Read the following statements regarding the process of decomposition: A. Humus is highly resistant to microbial action and undergoes decomposition at an extremely slow rate. B. The degradation of humus by microbes to release inorganic nutrients is called humification. C. Water-soluble inorganic nutrients go down into the soil horizon during leaching. D. Bacterial and fungal enzymes degrade detritus into simpler inorg

Step-by-step solution

Statement A is correct: Humus is a dark-coloured amorphous substance that is highly resistant to microbial action and decomposes extremely slowly. Statement B is incorrect: The degradation of humus by microbes to release inorganic nutrients is called mineralisation, not humification. Humification refers to the accumulation of humus. Statement C is correct: During leaching, water-soluble inorganic nutrients go down into the soil horizon and get precipitated as unavailable salts. Statement D is incorrect: The degrada