Mineralization

Mineralization refers specifically to those decomposition processes that release inorganic compounds from organic matter. Factors affecting mineralization rates are similar to those affecting decomposition, litter quality (e.g., concentrations of nutrients, lignin, and polyphenols) and environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, moisture, soil acidity and nutrient availability). If a particular nutrient is limiting to microbial metabolism, nutrients liberated by mineralization may be retained by the microbial biomass and are not available for plant utilization. Thus, the amount of a nutrient released by mineralization that is available for plant utilization is referred to as net mineralization:

Net mineralization = gross mineralization - immobilization