Aggregates versus pores – is the soil science community torn apart? A survey

Abstract

Whether soil structure should be viewed mostly as a system of pores or a set of aggregates is a question soil scientists keep debating in the literature, but it is unclear whether the wider soil science community is also divided. In a quick survey among mainly German soil scientists of all career levels and sub-disciplines, most participants agreed that both pores and aggregates are important to describe soil structure. The debate can nevertheless be fruitful if it is led more efficiently, avoiding generalisations, misunderstandings and potential emotional barriers.