The movement of air through the soil. Good soil aeration allows for the exchange of gases in the soil. Poor aeration can be caused by soil type, lack of organic matter, compaction, etc. Improving the soil structure will improve aeration
| improving soil aeration | ||
| 1. | turn over the soil | using spading forks, broad forks, shovels, conservative tilling, etc |
| 2. | add organic matter | organic matter helps keep the soil loose, improving pore spaces |
| 3. | mulching | helps to reduce soil compaction |
| 4. | reduce compaction | reduce traffic, reduce walking or working in wet garden soils |
| 5. | use a soil aerator | a mechanical device used in lawns to remove cores of soil to improve aeration |
| 6. | plants can reduce compaction | the roots growing and dying will improve the soil structure |
| importance of good soil aeration | ||
| 1. | crucial for the normal growth of plants | roots need to exchange gases such as carbon dioxide and oxygen for healthy growth |
| 2. | crucial for the normal growth of soil flora and fauna | the micro and macroscopic organisms of the soil need well-aerated soils |
