There is no consensus on the definition of a macropore (Luxmoore et al., 1990) although in practice all pores with an equivalent diameter > 500 μm are commonly referred to as macropores. Soil macropores are formed by plant roots and by soil invertebrates, notably earthworms. Macropores increase the hydraulic conductivity of the soil, allowing water to infiltrate faster and deeper in the profile. It has also been suggested that the re-colonization of root-induced macropores by successive generations of root systems influences plant nutrition, water uptake and the spread of root diseases.
Macropore
