Soil Aggregation Dynamics and Organic Carbon Management
Summary
Soil aggregation arises from the binding of mineral particles into multi-scale units driven by microbial exudates, organic matter fractions and physical forces. The hierarchical structure, from microaggregates (<250 µm) to macroaggregates (>250 µm), underpins water infiltration, root penetration and resistance to erosion. Organic carbon serves as both a substrate for microbial glues and a stabiliser within aggregates, sequestering carbon and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Management practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, organic amendments and revegetation modulate aggregate formation and turnover, affecting soil structure resilience and long-term productivity. Understanding the interactions between biological, chemical and physical drivers of aggregation is vital to optimise carbon storage, enhance nutrient cycling and safeguard soil health on a global scale.
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Soil Aggregation Dynamics and Organic Carbon Management publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in soil aggregation dynamics and organic carbon management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Soil aggregate: A cluster of soil particles bound together by organic, biological or mineral agents.
Mean weight diameter (MWD): An index of aggregate size distribution, calculated as the weighted average of aggregate size classes.
Soil organic carbon (SOC): The fraction of carbon stored within soil organic matter, crucial for aggregate stability and fertility.
Macroaggregate: A soil aggregate larger than 250 µm that enhances porosity and carbon protection.
Microaggregate: A smaller aggregate (<250 µm) that contributes to the internal structure of macroaggregates.
Soil erodibility: A measure of a soil’s susceptibility to detachment and transport by erosive forces.
References
- Revegetation as an efficient means of increasing soil aggregate stability on the Loess Plateau (China). Geoderma (2013).
- Effect of long-term tillage on soil aggregates and aggregate-associated carbon in black soil of Northeast China. PLOS ONE (2018).
- Rotation and manure amendment increase soil macro-aggregates and associated carbon and nitrogen stocks in flue-cured tobacco production. Geoderma (2018).
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