Abstract
The conventional model of aggregate formation suggests a hierarchy where micro-aggregates with lower porosity and therefore reduced soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization form inside macro-aggregates. This model has however been questioned for highly weathered Oxisols where inconclusive results regarding the presence of aggregate hierarchy have been obtained to date. We hypothesized that in Oxisols (i) an aggregate hierarchy would be present (ii) the porosity of micro-aggregates would be lower than that of macro-aggregates and (iii) pore geometry of aggregates would influence SOC mineralization. We collected topsoils from Oxisols in northern New South Wales, Australia from which macro-aggregates (>250μm), micro-aggregates (53-250μm) and
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 193-203 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Soil and Tillage Research |
Volume | 146 |
Issue number | PB |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Earth-Surface Processes
- Soil Science
- Agronomy and Crop Science