Garden Decors

Poor aeration can also be due to restricted flow of air from the atmosphere into soil pores. Most of the gaseous interchange with the atmosphere occurs through diffusion, which is hampered by a lack of macro pores in the soil. On heavily textured top soils and in compact sub soils, the rate of gaseous movement is particularly slow.

Fine-textured soils have a large proportion of pore space, but since the space is filled with micro pores that can hold water, the soil can easily become waterlogged. In silt loam soils in good condition, the total pore space is often nearly 50 percent of the total and is likely to be shared evenly by water and air.

Soil aeration is directly related to the porosity of the soil. Proper aeration of the soil is important to proper plant growth. Well- aerated soil consists of a large proportion of macro pores, allowing sufficient quantities of the right gases to be available to aerobic organisms to encourage best functioning and growth.

The earthworm will burrow down six feet and more, leaving its passageways as means for the entry of air. Applications of organic matter automatically multiply the earthworm population. In well-run organic farms and gardens there should be millions of earthworms per acre.

The first step will be to add humus. This may not be easy, but the results make any effort worthwhile. By doing this every one of the problems named above will be minimized, some entirely eliminated.

The soil will become easier to till. Moisture will seep down and be held instead of running off. In this converted adobe, earthworms may be planted and will flourish. Since humus is a neutralizer, the alkalinity will be brought down to a point suitable for many garden plants.

Tilling is an excellent means of improving soil aeration and reducing the carbon dioxide content of the soil.

A waterlogged condition is so detrimental to plant growth that even a short period may seriously endanger some plants. This may occur either in poorly drained soils composed of fine particles or in well-drained soil if enough water is rapidly applied. Prevention of this type of poor aeration necessitates removing water from the land, either by controlled runoff or drainage; the latter can be particularly effective.

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