Water storage
Water storage is dependent on the same bio-physical processes which determine the infiltration and percolation capacity of the soil. These are controlled primarily by the soil biota considered as ecosystem engineers engineers: earthworms[1],[2], enchytraeids[3], ants[4], fungal hyphae [5], and plant roots [6], etc. The processes Bioturbation and Aggregation contribute to this sub-function through changing soil structure, which in turn supports soil water retention. A soil with a good soil structure will retain soil moisture for longer, making it less susceptible to drought. The process of Fragmentation is also important for Water storage. Fragmentation involves the physical comminution and partial digestion of plant litter by soil meso- and macrofauna, after which the residues can be decomposed and/or become stabilised[7] contributing to soil organic matter formation[8] and Water storage.
[1] Blouin M. et al. 2013. A review of earthworm impact on soil function and ecosystem services. European Journal of Soil Science 64: 161–182.
[2] Taylor AR et al. 2019. Ant and Earthworm Bioturbation in Cold-Temperate Ecosystems. Ecosystems 22: 981–994.
[3] Dawod V & FitzPatrick EA. 1993. Some population sizes and effects of the Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta) on soil structure in a selection of Scottish soils. Geoderma 56: 173–178.
[4] Taylor AR et al. 2019. Ant and Earthworm Bioturbation in Cold-Temperate Ecosystems. Ecosystems 22: 981–994.
[5] Rillig MC. & Mummey DL. 2006. Mycorrhizas and soil structure. New Phytologist 171: 41–53.
[6] Six J. et al. 2004. A history of research on the link between (micro) aggregates, soil biota, and soil organic matter dynamics. Soil and Tillage Research 79: 7–31.
[7] Frouz J. 2018. Effects of soil macro- and mesofauna on litter decomposition and soil organic matter stabilization. Geoderma 332: 161–172.
[8] Lavallee JM et al. 2019. Conceptualizing soil organic matter into particulate and mineral-associated forms to address global change in the 21st century. Global Change Biology 26: 261-273.