Articles | Volume 10, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-23-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-10-23-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Forum article
| 
15 Jan 2024
Forum article |
| 15 Jan 2024
| 15 Jan 2024
Perspectives on the misconception of levitating soil aggregates
Department of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
John Koestel
Department of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
Alice Johannes
Department of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
Olivier Heller
Department of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
Sebastian Doetterl
Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Department of Environmental Systems Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology – ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 16, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV 89512, USA
Thomas Keller
Department of Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7014, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
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Cited
18 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Why a mechanistic theory of soils is crucially important: Another line of supportive argument exists, seldom invoked in soil science P. Baveye https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-1131-2025
- Synchrotron X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy in Soil Improvement and Remediation: A Review and Perspective C. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16080456
- Mulching timing synergistically increases maize yield and reduces carbon footprint in a semi-arid region: An 11-year field evidence Z. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2026.110515
- Connecting saturated hydraulic conductivity to soil aggregation on croplands along a European climate transect D. Burger et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2026.117911
- Exopolysaccharides from Rhizobium tropici improve flooding tolerance of Zea mays seedlings: Insights from a controlled pot study L. Xiao et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07767-y
- Effects of long-term cultivation on soil aggregate stability and transport processes in karst sloping cropland of Southwest China G. Yan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2026.100630
- Pore space memory of the Tlalpan pedosedimentary sequence as an indicator of paleopedogenesis L. Pogosyan et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.202300444
- Elucidating the role of ferrihydrite and goethite in the aggregation and stability of small soil microaggregates: An experimental study on arable Luvisols under different management N. Tang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117351
- The “extra pinch” of pseudosand to enhance tropical biogeochemical processes understanding S. Kilian Salas et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.202400090
- A soil structure-based modeling approach to soil heterotrophic respiration A. Jha et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-025-01223-w
- Hydrochar for Soil Management Within a Waste-to-Resource Framework: From Characteristics to Agri-Environmental Implications L. Vieira et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering8030108
- Effects of microplastics on soil physicochemical properties and vertical migration and transformation of chromium J. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.114577
- Microplastics: A hidden carrier of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and their effect on soil properties K. Tanzil et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.114974
- Formation pathways, ecosystem functions, and the impacts of land use and environmental stressors on soil aggregates P. Ponyane et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1628746
- Effects of biochar and organic fertilizer on microorganisms and aggregates and their carbon sequestration in sediment H. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-025-04060-4
- Short-term impact of mechanical loosening on physical soil properties in a severely compacted subsoil A. Widmer et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117611
- Sediment aggregate structure regulates nutrient cycling and plant–microbe interactions in the water–plant–sediment system C. Chao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.109739
- Restoration-mediated protein substances preferentially drive underlying bauxite residue macroaggregate formation during the simulated ecological reconstruction process L. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175636
18 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Why a mechanistic theory of soils is crucially important: Another line of supportive argument exists, seldom invoked in soil science P. Baveye https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-11-1131-2025
- Synchrotron X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy in Soil Improvement and Remediation: A Review and Perspective C. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16080456
- Mulching timing synergistically increases maize yield and reduces carbon footprint in a semi-arid region: An 11-year field evidence Z. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2026.110515
- Connecting saturated hydraulic conductivity to soil aggregation on croplands along a European climate transect D. Burger et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2026.117911
- Exopolysaccharides from Rhizobium tropici improve flooding tolerance of Zea mays seedlings: Insights from a controlled pot study L. Xiao et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-025-07767-y
- Effects of long-term cultivation on soil aggregate stability and transport processes in karst sloping cropland of Southwest China G. Yan et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2026.100630
- Pore space memory of the Tlalpan pedosedimentary sequence as an indicator of paleopedogenesis L. Pogosyan et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.202300444
- Elucidating the role of ferrihydrite and goethite in the aggregation and stability of small soil microaggregates: An experimental study on arable Luvisols under different management N. Tang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117351
- The “extra pinch” of pseudosand to enhance tropical biogeochemical processes understanding S. Kilian Salas et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.202400090
- A soil structure-based modeling approach to soil heterotrophic respiration A. Jha et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-025-01223-w
- Hydrochar for Soil Management Within a Waste-to-Resource Framework: From Characteristics to Agri-Environmental Implications L. Vieira et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering8030108
- Effects of microplastics on soil physicochemical properties and vertical migration and transformation of chromium J. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.114577
- Microplastics: A hidden carrier of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and their effect on soil properties K. Tanzil et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.114974
- Formation pathways, ecosystem functions, and the impacts of land use and environmental stressors on soil aggregates P. Ponyane et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1628746
- Effects of biochar and organic fertilizer on microorganisms and aggregates and their carbon sequestration in sediment H. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-025-04060-4
- Short-term impact of mechanical loosening on physical soil properties in a severely compacted subsoil A. Widmer et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117611
- Sediment aggregate structure regulates nutrient cycling and plant–microbe interactions in the water–plant–sediment system C. Chao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2025.109739
- Restoration-mediated protein substances preferentially drive underlying bauxite residue macroaggregate formation during the simulated ecological reconstruction process L. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175636
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 17 Jul 2026
Short summary
The concept of soil aggregates is hotly debated, leading to confusion about their function or relevancy to soil processes. We propose that the use of conceptual figures showing detached and isolated aggregates can be misleading and has contributed to this skepticism. Here, we conceptually illustrate how aggregates can form and dissipate within the context of undisturbed soils, highlighting the fact that aggregates do not necessarily need to have distinct physical boundaries.
The concept of soil aggregates is hotly debated, leading to confusion about their function or...
