💡 A three-phase, porous medium, soil consists of solids, liquids, and spaces. (empty spaces between the solids).
💨 Between 40 and 60 percent of the volume of mineral soil is actually empty space. (voids). Air or water is pumped into these spaces.
🦠 The respiration of plant roots and the metabolic activities of aerobic soil microorganisms both require oxygen.
📌 The following are important variables that affect soil's ability to hold oxygen:
➡️ Due to the sluggish rates of diffusion from the surface through the soil, O2 levels in the soil profile decline with depth.
➡️ Pore size distribution - soils with big pores promote more fast oxygen diffusion into and through the soil, and carbon dioxide movement out of the soil (sandy soils generally have low total porosity but large individual pores, whereas clay soils are characterized by a high total porosity but small individual pores).
➡️ Sandstone soils typically drain well, whereas clay soils drain poorly and are more likely to become anaerobic because bacteria absorb oxygen more quickly in clay soils.
➡️ Sandstone soils typically drain well, whereas clay soils drain poorly and are more likely to become anaerobic because bacteria absorb oxygen more quickly in clay soils.
➡️ Organic matter Content: Soils with a high organic matter content typically have higher pore space and oxygen availability due to their improved soil structure.
➡️ Temperature: As microbial activity rises in response to a rise in temperature, oxygen can be depleted more quickly than it can be regenerated.
📦 The OxyTurf + Ukelp unique mix from Makro Organics encourages enzymatic activity in the soil and permits adequate oxygenation of the soil systems.
OxyTurf + kelp