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AERIFICATION PLUS
Frequently Asked Questions:
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1. What is aerification?
A process usually mechanical to loosen soil at varying depths to enhance percolation, introduce air into the root zone and allow efficient gas exchange.
2. What is the "root zone"?
The root zone is the soil strata into which roots penetrate and the supporting levels below the actual extent of the roots.
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3. Why does the definition of "root zone" include an area below the level at which roots actually live?
Root development is dependent upon many factors. Important development factors include adequate percolation of water to depth. When water percolates or moves downward at a sufficient and consistent rate air is pulled in by the movement of the water. The downward movement of water and the resulting air movement is necessary for the healthy development of roots. Water must percolate down and through the areas below the roots to pull the necessary air into the area into which it is needed.
4. Why does an inadequate percolation limit root growth?
As water percolates through the root zone, air rushes to fill the open pore spaces that the water has vacated. This fresh air, newly introduced to the root zone, is essential to root growth and health. If percolation is inadequate the volume of air placed into the root zone is not sufficient for healthy roots. Layers of organic soil or compacted soil can limit percolation and air movement to the detriment of root growth. Under sever conditions these layers can cause water to virtually stop its downward movement, saturating the soil above the layer and forcing out the air necessary for growth.
5. What is a living soil?
A living soil provides all the elements necessary for microbial life. Air and water movement to sufficient depth is essential for healthy soil.
6. What is field capacity?
Field capacity is the amount of water held in a soil profile immediately after percolation has occurred. The amount of moisture held in the soil at field capacity is the upper limit of moisture available to the plant. Plants can utilize the moisture held in the soil from field capacity until the moisture content is reduced to the wilting point. At wilting point the water in the soil is minimal and not generally considered to be plant available.
7. Under drought conditions, will aerification help or hurt?
Certainly aerification will generally encourage some drying of the soil. However, a properly aerified soil is likely to be more efficient in the uptake of irrigation and rainfall than a compacted and crusty soil. Water efficiently entering the soil will certainly be more beneficial to the plant that water subject to surface run-off.
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