SOIL AGGREGATES: DEFINITION AND CAUSES


DEFINITION: Soil  aggregates are  clumps  of  soil particles that are held closely together by moist clay, organic   matter (roots ) and by organic compounds , form bacterial   fungi and hyphea, aggregates are group of  soil  particles  that binds together to each other more strongly  than adjacent particles.

Soil aggregates is the basic unit of soil structure   and its formation and stabilization has direct effect
on soil fertility and crop production. Soil aggregates varies in size from about  2 thousand of a millimeter across up to about  2 millimeter, and are made up of particles  of varying  sizes, some of these particles do not  fits closely together and  this  creates spaces of many  different sizes ,these spaces or pores within the  aggregates  are essential for storing air and water,  microbes  nutrients and organic matte.

WHAT CAUSES AGGREGATION
Aggregation occurs  when particles are held together by   gravity, electrostatic forces, various chemical glues  (such as iron oxides ) fibrous organic materials and a  range of gels and gums.
Thus aggregation is the result of the interaction between soil texture and organic matter  

Soil texture: This  includes the types of clay mineral  and soluble and exchangeable ions in soil fluids  sandy and slity soil is usually weakly aggregated where as high clay soil is usually strongly aggregated. 

Organic matter:  The accumulation of chemical  cement, time and the environment, plant materials  and  root exudates are the primary source of organic matter in soil, living organism and root  might  comprise up to  15%  of   total organic matter, while  active microbial   population with produce many  adhesive by products which helps in aggregate bounding 

The  strength  of bonding between aggregates will determine soil strength, how the soil consolidates  under pressure, the capacity of the soil to absorb  energy without eh aggregates breaking down under mechanical cultivation and   resistance of the soil to  erosion
A  well  aggregated soil  is  important it has pores  between aggregates and with aggregates, it has both large an some  pores. Large  pores allows for the exchange of oxygen and other gases in the atmosphere while small pores hold plants available  water  and dissolved nutrients
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