Soil organic matter, air encapsulation and water‐stable aggregation

L. A. SULLIVAN

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debatepeer-review

92 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A re‐interpretation of published data shows: firstly, that the hydrophobic properties of soil organic matter can increase the amount of air encapsulation within soil materials during water uptake; and secondly, that this increased air encapsulation can reduce water uptake rates sufficiently to prevent slaking. This aggregate stabilizing mechanism suggests novel approaches to soil management, based on the production of non‐uniformly distributed hydrophobic organic matter within intra‐aggregate pores, that could be used to improve soils whose aggregates fail when wetted rapidly.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)529-534
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Soil Science
Volume41
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1990
Externally publishedYes

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