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Soil quality in agricultural terms is measured on a scale of soil value (Bodenwertzahl) in Germany. [6] Soil quality is primarily measured by chemical, physical, and biological indicators because soil function cannot easily be measured directly. [7] Each of these categories comprises several indicators that provide insight into overall soil ...
In general, organic matter contacting soil has too little nitrogen to support the biosynthetic needs of the decomposing soil microbial population. If the C:N ratio of the decomposing organic matter is above circa 30:1 then the decomposing microbes may absorb nitrogen in mineral form as, e. g., ammonium or nitrates. This mineral nitrogen is said ...
The soil bulk density of cultivated loam is about 1.1 to 1.4 g/cm 3 (for comparison water is 1.0 g/cm 3). [48] Contrary to particle density, soil bulk density is highly variable for a given soil, with a strong causal relationship with soil biological activity and management strategies. [ 49 ]
Soil wetting and drying cycles can have both a beneficial effect on soil aggregation, [18] [19] and a negative effect on soil aggregation. [20] [21] To help explain these contradictory results, it was hypothesized that soils will maintain a state of aggregate stability equilibrium. If soils have certain properties, a threshold level will be ...
Recycling in natural systems is one of the many ecosystem services that sustain and contribute to the well-being of human societies. [2] [3] [4] There is much overlap between the terms for the biogeochemical cycle and nutrient cycle. Most textbooks integrate the two and seem to treat them as synonymous terms. [5]
Soil represents one of the largest C sinks on Earth and is significant in the global carbon cycle and, therefore, for climate change mitigation. [6] Therefore, SOM/SOC dynamics and the capacity of soils to provide the ecosystem service of carbon sequestration through SOM management have received considerable attention.
Soil microbial communities experience shifts in the diversity and composition during dehydration and rehydration cycles. [5] Soil moisture affects carbon cycling a phenomenon known as Birch effect. [6] [7] Temperature variations in soil are influenced by factors such as seasonality, environmental conditions, vegetation, and soil composition.
Soil fertility is a complex process that involves the constant cycling of nutrients between organic and inorganic forms. As plant material and animal wastes are decomposed by micro-organisms, they release inorganic nutrients to the soil solution, a process referred to as mineralization. Those nutrients may then undergo further transformations ...