Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
35
30
25
20
Very good
15
Good
10
Moderate
Bad
5
Poor
0
5
10
20
AWC (%)
15
25
30
35
Figure 4.2
A simple classification of
structuralqualityforvineyardsoils.
(White,2003)
Increasing droughtiness
Figure 4.3
Desirable subangular blocky structure in the topsoil of a calcareous soil in the
Tuscany region, Italy. The scale is 10 cm.
blockybutwellroundedandbetween5and20mminsize.hiskindofaggrega-
tion is typical of loamy soils under grass. The fine roots of the grass plants bind
soil particles together, whereas gums and mucilages produced by the roots and
associated bacteria and fungi act as a biological adhesive. The more organic mat-
terisintheaggregates,thedarkertheyappear(seeigure3.6,chapter3).his
