Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The larger particles of greater than 2.0 mm are also of importance since coarse-
textured soils are usually free-draining and thus tend to be more highly and deeply
leached (Birkeland, 1984). The nature, placement and content of larger particles may
substantially affect water infiltration and erosion, temperature fluxes and plant growth
(Poesen and Lavee, 1994).
The inorganic soil particles belonging to different size classes may differ considerably
in chemical composition. This is illustrated in Figures I.2a and b which present the
variation of the total phosphorus and iron contents with size fraction and depth in
the profile of a southeastern Australian alfisol (Chartres and Walker, 1988).
