Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Aggregate hierarchy in soils

JM Oades and AG Waters

Australian Journal of Soil Research 29(6) 815 - 828
Published: 1991

Abstract

An Alfisol, a Mollisol and an Oxisol were fractionated into different particle sizes after a range of disaggregating treatments from gentle to vigorous. The Alfisol and the Mollisol appeared to break down in steps; macroaggregates >250 µm diameter breaking down to microaggregates 20-250 µm diameter before particles <20 µm were released. Vigorous disruption led to particle size distributions similar to those obtained by classical methods used to determine particle size distributions. The Oxisol was stable to rapid wetting treatments but when aggregate disruption was initiated by vigorous treatments particles <20 µm diameter were released and there was no evidence of aggregate hierarchy. Scanning electron microscopy of particles of different sizes showed distinctly single grain particles and aggregates. The microscopic studies indicated the potential role of roots and hyphae in the stabilization of larger aggregates, and for fragments of roots as nuclei for smaller aggregates. Plant debris was not visible in aggregates <20 µm but clay microstructure was evident. It is suggested that aggregate hierarchy occurs in Alfisols and Mollisols because organic materials are the dominant stabilizing agents in larger aggregates but in the Oxisol oxides are dominant stabilizing agents and prevent the expression of aggregate hierarchy caused by organic materials.

Keywords: Aggregate Hierarchy; Soil Organic Matter; Scanning Electron Microscopy;

https://doi.org/10.1071/SR9910815

© CSIRO 1991

Committee on Publication Ethics


Rent Article (via Deepdyve) Export Citation Cited By (796) Get Permission

View Dimensions

View Altmetrics