Sustainable Management of Soil Resources in the Humid Tropics (UNU, 1995, 146 pages): IX. Ecological approach to sustainable land use in the humid tropics: C. Soil structure

Sustainable Management of Soil Resources in the Humid Tropics (UNU, 1995, 146 pages)

IX. Ecological approach to sustainable land use in the humid tropics

		(introductory text...)
		A. Soil erosion control
		B. Soil organic matter maintenance
		C. Soil structure
		D. High soil biodiversity
		E. Mineral cycling
		F. Soil resilience
		G. Ecological compatibility

C. Soil structure

Soil structure must be maintained to allow the functioning of the dynamic processes (e.g., aeration, water transmission and retention, root growth). Different manifestations of soil structure include aggregation and its stability; porosity and pore-size distribution, especially macropores; water retention and transmission properties; and compatibility. Once destroyed, these favorable attributes of soil structure are difficult to restore.