Soil Air Composition and Soil Aeration

by soil sicenist

1. Soil The uppermost layer of the earth’s crust, which contains the organic as well as mineral matter necessary for the growth of plants.

2. Soil is composed of four primary compounds Minerals Organic matter Air And water

3. Composition of average soil

4. When soil are wet, the amount of air will be less and when soils are dry, the amount of air will be more. AIR The invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen.

5. Composition The proportion of different parts to make a whole OR The general makeup of something

6. Soil Air The soil air contains a number of gases of which nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour are the most important. Soil air constantly moves from the soil pores into the atmosphere and from the atmosphere into the pore space .

7. Air in the soil

8. Importance of soil air It is used for the respiration by the root Decomposition of the organic matter by the microorganisms .

9. Composition Name of Gas Percentage of Volume Soil Air Atmospheric Air Oxygen 20.00 21.00 Nitrogen 78.60 78.03 Carbon dioxide 0.50 0.94 Argon 0.90 0.94 Table. Composition of Soil and Atmospheric Air

10. Soil Air Composition Soil air and water share the pore space of soil so texture, structure, porosity, etc affect aeration. The air is a mixture of few gases, mainly N, oxygen , Carbon dioxide , water vapour and inert gases. It envelopes the earth and extend up to a considerable height from the surface of the earth called atmosphere. Air (O2) is needed in the soil for root respiration as well as the activity of micro-organisms in soil.

11. Soil Aeration Soil aeration may be defined as the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen gases between the soil pore space and the aerial atmosphere .

12. Process of Air Aeration

13. Benefits of Lawn Aeration

14. Gaseous Exchange Soil aeration process is achieved by gaseous exchange The more rapidly roots and microbes use up oxygen and release carbon dioxide, the greater is the need for exchange of gases b/w the soil and the atmosphere. Exchange of gases between soil and atmosphere is achieved through two mechanisms: a) Mass flow- gas exchange is due to fluctuations in water content of soil that force air in and out. b) Diffusion – gas exchange is by partial pressure .

15. Importance of soil Aeration It is also important to ensure that nutrients can reach the soil beneath your grass. Aeration can be an extremely vital element to a healthy lawn because it allows air and water to penetrate built-up grass or lawn thatch .