Soil porosity crucial for microbial life, impacts nutrient transport and gas exchange.
Soil pore structure affects microbial activity. Different soils were studied to see how their pore systems change when disturbed. Clay content didn't affect the size of habitable and protective pores. Disturbed soils had smaller protective pores and less continuous pore systems than undisturbed soils. Oxygen diffusion in soil is influenced by water content, which affects aerobic microbe activity.