The role of the structure to provide biogeocenotic soil functions
Authors: Gorban V. A. 
Published: February 2018

There is a presentation of analysis of the structural state role in the manifestation of biogeocenotic soil functions, which are due to their physical, chemical and biochemical, physical-chemical, information, integrity properties. The main role in the formation of the structure of living space manifests itself in existence, due to the presence in soil aggregates of different sizes and structures, of numerous and diverse ecological niches for soil organisms. The participation of structure in providing housing and shelter is evident in its impact on the majority of soil conditions. The role of the structure in the manifestation of the support is associated with fixing function in plants through the soil root system, as well as with structural features of the surface soil, which is used by animals when moving. The participate of structure in preservation of plant seeds, eggs and larvae of animal is due to the formation of aggregated soil optimal living conditions for living organisms. The structure plays an important role in realization of the soil nutrients and source connections, as plants are able to obtain only minerals in dissolved form and the optimal conditions for this can provide only soil with qualitative waterproof structure. The structure also participates in the formation of a depot of nutrients, energy and moisture, most of which are found in soil and aggregates that can be made available to living organisms after their destruction. The role of the of structure in providing stimulator function and inhibitor of biochemical processes is evident in the formation of a kind of the medium through which the interaction of the root systems of plants, as well as providing conditions for humification and mineralization of soil organic matter. The influence of the structure on the sorption of particulate material coming from the atmosphere is evident in its involvement in the formation of structural units of the soil. The role of the structure in the sorption of fine soil microorganisms living in the soil is due to the fact that this process is largely determined by the shape of aggregates, mineral composition and organic matter, which are included in their composition. The features of the structure to provide a signal function to the seasonal biological processes are related to the determining the influence of the aggregate composition of the soil at its thermal regime, which mainly depends on all biological processes in the soil. The role of the structure in the regulation of number and composition of the ecological community is due to the existence of the relationship between aggregate soil composition and characteristics of ecological community that exists on it. Participation in the launch of some of the structures of succession occurs mainly at the sharp deterioration of the structural state of the soil, which may be associated with the processes of water and wind erosion. The role of the structure to provide a «memory» of biogeocoenosis is explained by quite stable structural state of the natural ecosystems of the soil in the absence of catastrophic processes, which is able to store information about the features of the state of other components of biogeocoenosis. Participation of the structure in the transformation of matter and energy entering biogeocoenosis is due to the constant transformation of minerals, grain size elements, organic matter and other constituent parts of the soil in the process of aggregation. The role of the structure in the display of the sanitary function is due to the fact that there is a degradation of organic residues and metabolic products of living organisms in the soil, its antiseptic properties is best evident only in well-structured soil. The value of the structure in the function of the protective screen and buffer biogeocenotic screen provision is most fully shown in the soils of natural ecosystems with a favorable and stable structural state, due to which ecosystems are protected from mechanical destruction under the influence of various factors – water, wind, gravity force. Despite the cited aspects of the role of structure manifestation in providing biogeocenotic soil functions there is a need for further detailed research in this area.