[TheSpiceIsLife]

>> soil microbes transform it into carbon dioxide and methane

> rot

That's what the previous comment just said.

Decomposition of plant matter occurs in many stages. It begins with leaching by water; the most easily lost and soluble carbon compounds are liberated in this process. Another early process is physical breakup or fragmentation of the plant material into smaller bits which have greater surface area for microbial colonization and attack. In smaller dead plants, this process is largely carried out by the soil invertebrate fauna, whereas in the larger plants, primarily parasitic life-forms such as insects and fungi play a major breakdown role and are not assisted by numerous detritivore species.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decomposition#Plant_decomposit...

[jussij]

The OP is just pointing out that the rotting matter is organic in nature, which means it is made from hydrocarbons and not carbon.

[TheSpiceIsLife]

I would have thought that was obvious from the context, fair point though.

Although I think carbohydrates is probably more accurate if we’re talking about decaying plant matter.

[ars]

Fatty acids are not carbohydrates, but are hydrocarbons.

Lignin is also not normally considered a carbohydrate.

[TheSpiceIsLife]

Ah yep, that's definitely true. Thanks for point that out.