Soil aggregation
It is the condition of soil consisting of crumbs or aggregates of various sizes that provide the necessary balance of air and water for plant growth.
Также говорят: soil structure, soil crumbs, aggregation
Soil aggregation is a fundamental indicator of soil health and fertility. Soil is considered well-structured when it contains stable aggregates that allow for proper water infiltration and root penetration, preventing the soil from becoming compacted or eroded.
Practically, farmers maintain this by implementing conservation tillage and crop rotation, especially with perennial grasses. A common mistake is over-tilling, which breaks down beneficial aggregates into fine dust, leading to surface crusting and poor air exchange in the root zone.