Macroaggregate
Macroaggregate refers to a soil aggregate larger than about 0.25 millimeters in diameter. They are visible to the naked eye and form the major structural units that build the soil’s pore network for drainage and aeration. Macroaggregates consist of mineral grains bound together by organic matter, clay minerals, iron and aluminum oxides, and biological substances such as root exudates and fungal hyphae, including glomalin produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
Formation and dynamics occur through a combination of physical processes, biological activity, and organic matter accumulation.
Function and importance: Macroaggregates create stable pore networks that promote infiltration, drainage, and aeration, while protecting
Measurement and management: The proportion of macroaggregates and their stability are assessed by wet sieving or
Related concepts: Macroaggregates are part of the broader soil aggregate hierarchy, alongside microaggregates and ped structure,