Aeration, Biology

Assignment Help:

Aeration

A well-aerated soil is one in which gases are available to plant roots and other soil organisms, in sufficient quantities and in proper proportions to support their normal respiratory activities. It is important that oxygen which is necessary for soil biota is continuously renewed to support metabolic activities.

A soil which is considered well aerated must have the following two characteristics. First, sufficient space for air movement should be present. Second, there must be ample opportunity for the ready movement of gases into and out of the soil. Soil aeration is an important factor having far reaching influence on the metabolic activity of plant roots and other soil organisms. Continuous supply of oxygen in the soil is necessary to sustain soil organisms.

One of the most apparent effects of poor soil aeration is the reduction in the rate of organic matter decomposition, which you might recall is an essential process to maintain soil fertility. The reduced rate of break down of organic matter is due to the lack of oxygen rather than from the built up of carbon dioxide. Accumulation of organic matter in swampy areas shows that the lack of oxygen retards the decomposition of organic matter.

Aerobic soil organisms are unable to survive in the absence of gaseous oxygen. For example, bacteria that are responsible for the oxidation of nitrogen and sulphur are relatively ineffective in poorly aerated soils. This is also true for the symbiotic nitrogen fixers and some of the free living nitrogen fixers such as azotobacter.

Higher plants are also adversely affected by poor soil aeration because the root growth is curtailed; nutrient and water absorption is adversely affected; and certain toxic elements accumulate in poorly aerated soils.


Related Discussions:- Aeration

Explain basal metabolism rate (bmr) - ageing, Explain Basal Metabolism Rate...

Explain Basal Metabolism Rate (BMR) - Ageing? From age 25 years, the basal metabolism decreases by about 2 percent for each decade due to the increasing proportion of body fat

Why plant nutrients is said to be essential, Why plant nutrients said to be...

Why plant nutrients said to be essential An element is said to be essential if,   (i)   The deficiency of an element in plant, makes it impossible to complete the vegetative

Onchology, Onchology : This is the study of cancer. Oncology word meaning i...

Onchology : This is the study of cancer. Oncology word meaning is mass, bulk & tumor. This is a branch of medicine which deals with tumors (cancer). The one who practices oncology

Describe cell-mediated immunity, Cell-mediated immunity:  The immune reacti...

Cell-mediated immunity:  The immune reaction directed against the body cells which have been infected by viruses and bacteria; and are controlled by T cells.

Structural differences between roots and shoots, What are the structural di...

What are the structural differences between roots and shoots? What structures are unique to each?

Explain the life cycle of nitrogen, Explain the life cycle of Nitrogen ? ...

Explain the life cycle of Nitrogen ? Nitrogen cycle: Along with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, nitrogen is one of the most common elements that form biological molecules. Nitr

What is centrioles in cell structure, What is Centrioles in cell structure?...

What is Centrioles in cell structure? Most cells of higher organisms contain pairs of cylindrical bodies called centrioles, which help to organize microtubules in cell division

Changes in the malarial parasite, The parasite completes a part of its life...

The parasite completes a part of its life histroy in man in two stages. They are : a) Pre-Erythrocytic cycle. b) Erythrocytic cycle. 1. When an infected female Anopheles mosquit

Into which classes are mollusc divided, Into which classes are mollusc divi...

Into which classes are mollusc divided? What are some representing beings of each class? The phylum Mollusca is separated into five major classes: pelecypods, or bivalves (Pele

Do platyhelminthes have an excretory system, Q. Cnidarians and Poriferans d...

Q. Cnidarians and Poriferans do not have excretory systems. Do platyhelminthes have an excretory system? Platyhelminthes have a primitive excretory system made of flame cells

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd