Fig. 5.1.1. Top: pie chart showing the typical physical composition of most soils used in food production; Bottom: Basic cross-section of approximately 20 mm wide of soil as a porous, biologically active mineral-organic matrix. Red arrows show non-living components while purple arrows show biological components. Large macropores resulting from good soil <em>structure</em> allow adequate drainage and air entry to a soil for biological activity, while smaller mesopores and micropores hold water at varying degree of availability for plant roots. Macrofauna such as earthworms (>2mm approximate dimension) are also very important but would occupy too much of the diagram to show.
Originally uploaded in Integrate:Teaching for Sustainability:InTeGrate Modules:Future of Food:Student Materials.
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Jan3 18