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

Determine the carbon based materials, Carbon Based Materials These incl...

Carbon Based Materials These include Pyrolytic carbon, polycrystalline (Vitreous Carbon), and carbon/silicon interstitial combination. Vitreous Carbon -Solid or porous vitre

What is panoramic x-ray, What is Panoramic X-Ray This is one of the mos...

What is Panoramic X-Ray This is one of the most vital radiological techniques in planning placement of dental implants. Not only will it give you the complete picture of the pe

Explain biochemical investigation, Explain Biochemical investigation Bi...

Explain Biochemical investigation Biochemical  investigations:  These help  to  reveal nutrients and metabolites in blood and /or urine, and/or faeces that indicate an infectio

How many meters long is the molecule, E. coli DNA has a MW of about 2.7 x 1...

E. coli DNA has a MW of about 2.7 x 10^9 Daltons. How many meters long is this molecule and what does this tell you about the state of the intracellular DNA? ( The lenght of a sing

Contamination of the implant body before insertion, Contamination of the Im...

Contamination of the Implant Body before Insertion The implant may be contaminated by manufacturing error, by the operator, from non titanium instrumentation and by the bacteri

Determine the stability of natural colorants in foods, Stability of Natural...

Stability of Natural Colorants in Foods Many attempts have been made to retain colouration by adding chemicals or modifying processing conditions. Ascorbic acid has been claime

What is gingival inflammation, What is Gingival Inflammation Areas of o...

What is Gingival Inflammation Areas of overt inflammation should be identified and the etiology investigated to initiate proper treatment.

What determines an individual''s work capacity, What determines an individu...

What determines an individual's Work Capacity or VO 2 Max? Both aerobic and anaerobic mechanisms determine an individual's performance capacity. VO 2 max is determined by the

What are the phospholipids, Q. What are the phospholipids? Phospholipid...

Q. What are the phospholipids? Phospholipids are molecules made of glycerol bound to one phosphate group and to two long molecules of fatty acids. hence, phospholipids are amph

Chromosomes and chromatin strands are present in stage, Drosophila has 4 bi...

Drosophila has 4 bivalents (homologous chromosomes) formed at Meiosis I. How many chromosomes and chromatin strands are present in each of the following stages- Anaphase of mito

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