Decomposition

Noadswood Science, 2011

DecompositionDecomposition

To understand decomposition, and know why this is important

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

FruitFruit

The following pictures show three pieces of fruit: - One has been kept for a week in warm conditions One has been kept for a week in cold conditions One has been kept for a week without oxygen

Decide which fruit was left in which condition, and try and explain why they look like they do…

It is all due to decomposition…

DecompositionDecomposition

Living things are made from materials they take from the environment around them

When they decompose the elements they contain are returned to the soil where they cam from originally

These elements are then used by plants to grow, and the whole cycle repeats itself…

Fruit Decomposition

DecompositionDecomposition

Decomposition is carried out by bacteria and fungi

All plant matter and dead animals are broken down and decomposed by soil bacteria and fungi

This happens everywhere in nature, as well as in human systems such as compost heaps and sewage works

A variety of crucial elements are recycled (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen)

DecompositionDecomposition

Decay is both important and useful, since it recycles raw materials and gets rid of waste at the same time

Decay is the decomposition of organic matter by decomposer micro-organisms

Bacteria and fungi feed on the organic matter to provide themselves with energy – during the decay process both carbon and nitrogen are recycled

The carbon from dead or waste materials is made into carbon dioxide which plants need for photosynthesis

The nitrogen from proteins in dead or waste materials is converted to nitrates in the soil which plants use to produce new proteins

DecomposersDecomposers

Complete the decomposers worksheet

DecomposersDecomposers

Ideal ConditionsIdeal Conditions

For decomposition to occur there are a variety of ideal conditions, including the presence of: - Warmth Moisture Oxygen

Decomposers (bacteria and fungi) must be present, along with the organic matter

Woolly Mammoth – frozen in time

Compost HeapCompost Heap

Your task is to design a container for a compost heap to allow the best decomposition?

Consider the temperature; atmospheric conditions; organisms contained within the compost heap etc…

Add explanations to the features you have chosen – why did you choose the feature, and of what benefit is it?

Compost HeapCompost Heap

Compost heap – must not get too wet, must have a good supply of air (oxygen for the microorganisms), and the microorganisms need to be present!