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No, it is not true.

Naturally occurring soil is a mixture of non-organic particles (like clay, silt, sand and gravel), organic matter in all stages of decay, and living organisms (like bacteria, fungi and insect larvae).

You can make soil that is entirely made from organic matter, but it will not consist only of decayed plant material.

Even if you start with a pile of dead leaves, by the time it has become soil, it is no longer purely plant material. Decay (apart from mechanical erosion) is only possible through the action of decomposers living off the leaves, dying and eventually becoming part of the soil. The decomposers are fungi or animals, not plants.

The organic matter in soil does not have to come from plants - dead pets work just fine! Then you get soil composed of decayed animal material, plus living and dead microorganisms, fungi and animals, without any plant material.

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13y ago

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More answers

No, soil is made of a mixture of organic matter, minerals, water, air, and living organisms in various stages of decomposition. While decomposed plant material contributes to the organic matter in soil, it is not the only component. Minerals are a significant part of soil composition, derived from parent rock material through weathering processes.

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9mo ago
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Q: Is it true that soil is made completely of decayed plant material?
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