You're on the verge of a breakthrough, someone just needs to push you down into the rabbit hole. The one thing you have correct is that everything in the world, including me and you and organic amendments, is indeed
made up of chemicals (technically substances).
Let's check out the definition of the word chemical:
chem·i·cal
/ˈkemək(ə)l/
adjective
- of or relating to chemistry or the interactions of substances as studied in chemistry.
noun
- a compound or substance that has been purified or prepared, especially artificially.
Now let's see the definition of the word organic:
or·gan·ic
/ôrˈɡanik/
adjective
- of, relating to, or derived from living matter.
Why is this important? Well, we discovered that plants absorb minerals in ionic form before we truly realized that soil is alive. We had very little idea as to the nature of the symbiotic relationships fostered between organisms in soil and especially in the rhizosphere. As a matter of fact it wasn't until the electron microscope that any of this came to light and in the past couple of decades researchers were able to paint a better picture of exactly what goes on between plants, microbes and other soil-dwelling organisms. Now we know that it goes beyond simple plant nutrition.
Microbes do break down organic (once living) matter into inorganic mineral ions that plants use as nutrients. They recycle once-living material to feed new life, on demand. This is only the face of it though. Different kinds of microbes do different things for soil and plants themselves. Mycorrhizal fungi are an important example; they actually seek out water and minerals to exchange for carbohydrates in the rhizosphere. They and other symbionts also produce more than just plant usable nutrients. They produce natural chelating agents that makes nutrients more plant available. They go so far as to produce antimicrobial compounds and substances that stimulate plant growth. Even beyond that they help keep nutrients
in the rhizosphere where plants can use them, both by producing humus and by keeping nutrients stored in their bodies. Otherwise the nutrients would simply wash away.
Plant roots secrete substances called root exudates precisely to cater to and control to an extent the types of microbes that live in their rhizosphere. All of that "living shit" is quite important, especially w here the health of our planet and the soil outside is concerned. Without these kinds of interactions our planet would be lifeless. If that doesn't mean anything to you I don't know what to tell you.
