Will such soil in the Bavarian Alps soon just be a mere memory? Humus-rich soil in the Wetterstein Forest near Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

You can actually see humus, it’s what gives soil its dark brown color. Generally, the darker the soil, the more humus there is. Humus is essential for healthy soil. It improves soil tilth and ...

Here's what causes this and how to prevent it. ...

while a small proportion of the original carbon is retained in the soil through the formation of humus, a product that often gives carbon-rich soils their characteristic dark color (Fig.