Soil Science

Introduction

Primary soil particles grouped together form aggregates. Binding within aggregates can be attributed to organic matter, colloidal properties of mineral particles, and other cementing substances.

Two processes affect the forces involved in aggregation:

  1. Forces generated through the soil water phase (surface tensional forces at the air-water interface; cohesive tensional forces).
  2. Forces generated through soil drying (as the water phase recedes to capillary wedges, adjacent particles are pulled together by interfacial tensional forces and internal cohesive tensional forces).

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