The process of degradation of humus by soil microbes to release inorganic nutrients is called as --------------.

Step-by-step solution

Decomposition involves several steps: fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification, and mineralisation. Humification leads to the accumulation of a dark-coloured amorphous substance called humus that is highly resistant to microbial action and undergoes decomposition at an extremely slow rate. The humus is further degraded by some microbes and the release of inorganic nutrients occurs by the process known as mineralisation. Answer: mineralisation