The effect of the size of soil aggregates on nutrient supply

Abstract

SummarySoil aggregates of different sizes, separated by sieving, and artificial aggregates stabilized by a chemical conditioner were used to study the effect of particle size on the uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus by plants growing in pots. Phosphate uptake was consistently less from the coarser than from the finer fractions of soil. The uptake of nitrate was also greater from smaller than from larger aggregates, despite its mobility in soil moisture.