Factors of Soil Aggregation Essay -- Agriculture Agricultural essays

Factors of Soil AggregationThere are galore(postnominal) features that think of a soil. One such feature is hoards. There are many various types of congeriess, such as platy, prismatic, granule, blocky, angular, and more. There are several different factors which catch the tenoration of these aggregates. Hans Jenny, in his book Factors of Soil Formation (1941), recognizes louver factors which influence soil peeation climate, biota, topography, parent material, and time. This written report will look for each of these factors in order to gain a better soul as to what influences aggregate formation and strength. Before exploring aggregate formation and strength, the war cry aggregate must be clearly defined. Singer and Munns (1996) define aggregate as a word synonymous to ped which refers to a group of essential particles held together by various soil-stabilizing agents (pg. 28) and are described according to their shape, size, stability, and easterly with which we can s ee them in the soil (pg. 28). There are six main types of aggregate shape granular, subangular blocky, angular blocky, prismatic, columnar, and platy (Singer and Munns, 1996). Aggregates of different shapes form under different conditions, however, the basic elements that cause aggregate formation go along the same. Now that aggregate has been defined, the discussion of formational factors may begin. The formation of aggregates begins at the smallest level, with tiny particles of less than five micrometers called colloids (Singer and Munns, 1996). At this size, electrostatic attach and hydrogen bonding hold particles together (Black, 1968). This causes several effects. First, the amount of clay present becomes important, since close to electrostatic and inter... ...arides that are effective binding compounds. Fungal hyphae on axial motion surfaces can physically enmesh and stabilize casts, but stabilization is closely strongly promoted by drying, which brings the organic and mineral compounds into close association, promoting clay-polyvalent cation-organic matter linkages (pg. 1743).The factors which influence soil formation, and consequently aggregates, are complexly linked. Each factor interacts, influences, and in turn is dependent upon each other factor. Through this amazingly abstruse relationship, several factors are recognized as more influential in aggregate formation. To fully list all possible elements which work to form a single aggregate would take many years, and many volumes of books to complete. This paper has hopefully provided insight into several of the most important factors that influence aggregate formation.