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Factors that Affect the availability of Water and Inorganic Nutrients to…
Factors that Affect the availability of Water and Inorganic Nutrients to Soil Microbes
Abiotic - Non-living component
Soil Texture
Pore Space and Soil component %
insert the 2classification
farmers prefer the light soil easier to ploughand has more sand in comparison to clay for ploughing
Porosity determines the space for air and water
Sandy soil has less total pore volume=less porosity due to larger pores and drains quickly due to higher quantity of macropores
while the clay soil= smaller pores therefore greater total pore volume = greater porosity and drains slower
Total surface Area
Leads the porosity
Soil Structure
Arrangement into peds & aggregates
granular found where plant roots are growing
Biopores formed from eg earthworms and plant roots
Colloids in soil which acts as a glue providing an higher reactive surface area.
Soil pH
Plants prefer neutral to slightly acidic ph 6-7
ctinobateeria prefers neutral no flourishing in the acidic
fungi and bacteria in acid soils ph 1-13
Soil Aeration
Determines the level of oxygen in soil. Depends on soil moisture porosity and biota.
oxuen enters via mass flow/ diffusion which is 10,000X slower in water eg. Claey soils are prone to aeration
Soil Colour depends on this
Well aerated= red yellow, reddy brown
low aerated= blue & grey
Soil Temperature & Water
Dry soil heats up more quickly
infiltration downwards entrance of the water , Water adhesion and cohesion
Water affects the dissolved inorganic solutes and gasses
Biotic - living component
Plants
Plant Roots influences the turn over rate (higher) and are essential for the transport of minerals and nutrients
Pores and Microorganism
macropores created by nematodes and arthropods eg beetles while micropores hold/ harbpurs the organic compounds