Soil Aeration

The action of improving air content within a soil. It also relates to the capability of a soil to exchange soil air with atmospheric air. There needs to be adequate air-filled porosity within a soil, typically at least 10%, for good oxygen exchange to take place, whilst under waterlogged conditions a soil can become anaerobic, with the oxygen being used up, in a short period of time. Denitrification occurs as oxygen is reduced, releasing N2O, and this can be followed by a build-up of high levels of some elements, in particular iron and manganese, which can be toxic to plant growth. The disorder Black Layer is also favoured by anaerobic conditions, especially where they occur in sandy profiles.

(Further reading: P.W. Inglett, K.R. Reddy, R. Corstanje, ANAEROBIC SOILS, Editor(s): Daniel Hillel, Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment, Elsevier, 2005, Pages 72-78, ISBN 9780123485304, https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-348530-4/00178-8. accessed 16th June 2021)