2006-11-09 16:10:03 · 7 answers · asked by prathi 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
f you're referring to that smell similar to mushrooms, here's your answer.
Rain falling on soil creates earthy-smelling spores in the soil to emit an odor... these spores are called; actinomycetes....a common type of bacteria found in compost and most of our soils. Actinomycetes, in compost, are the primary decomposers of tough plant materials like bark, newspaper and woody stems.
Trees and plants also release aromatic gases when humidity spikes or rain falls.
Hope this is the answer you were searching for!
(professional certified crop consultant with a degree in plant science)
2006-11-10 08:46:01 · answer #1 · answered by jazzmaninca2003 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Parthi, Its an excellent question i wish i knew the scintific and biological reason but being an ARTS student throughout i just wanna share my feelings about the soil odour.
I think the soil has energy in it and so has the water and we all know that both together give us the food we need and thus when they both meet, a special energy (which could even be felt in the atmosphere when the first drop of rain touches the earth) creates that special odour.
2006-11-10 00:33:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps the smell is amplified when wet..like a dog. Also I guess there are organisms and bacteria that become more active when it is wet. Don't you just love the smell of moist soil in the headwind as the rain is heading your way?
2006-11-10 00:14:55 · answer #3 · answered by anything_my_child 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the combination of water and the substances present reacts with each other.
2006-11-10 16:46:46 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't know the real answer but very nice question. it just makes me feel that iam outside when the frist rain falls and i get overjoyed with that special smell of the earth especially in INDIA.ohhh i miss my country! anwers give joy to people but your question took me to my country. thank you.
2006-11-10 00:40:34 · answer #5 · answered by kirtik 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a fungus. There's a different one for urban areas than forested ones, but it's windborne in both cases and they are fairly worldwide in distribution.
2006-11-10 02:12:14 · answer #6 · answered by aseachangea 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its because of the dirt like urine or mucus or whatever that is on the ground, it mixes wioth the soil thats why it stinks
2006-11-10 00:19:23 · answer #7 · answered by _nakahhidit_ 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋