Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 4: The Fundamentals of Soil
Science
The science of soil is very complex, covering inorganic, organic and electrochemistry,
biology, physics, geology, geophysics and other fields of study. The purpose of this chapter
is to discuss the basics of soil science as it applies to electroculture in order to set the
stage for understanding both why it brings such enormous benefits and why it isn't always
successful.
The Structure of Soil
While soil may seem like a very basic material on which plants grow and through which
worms and other insects burrow, it is actually a very complex and diverse set of living and
non-living substances. What's amazing is how well the different soil components interact
with each other, to create a beneficial environment that is suited for the development,
nourishment and sustainability of all of its life forms.
The structure of soil is varied and complex. It is made of air, water, mineral particles,
organic matter and organisms, too. In between the soil particles are empty areas called pore
spaces,whicharetypicallyhalfairandhalfwater.Whilesoilismostlycomposedofmineral
particles, depending on the fertility of the soil, organic matter may also be present. It's the
organic materials present in soil that are essential in holding soil particles together, storing
nutrients and feeding soil organisms.
