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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