ABSTRACT
The basic components of the soil air are nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapour. These components of soil air are unevenly distributed between the liquid and gaseous phases of the soil. In comparison to atmospheric air, soil air contains less oxygen and more carbon dioxide. The factors decreasing oxygen concentration in the soil air through increasing the soil respiratory activity include the application of manure, green fertilizers, and slurry. Apart from oxygen and carbon dioxide, there are also other gaseous components of the soil air, though present only in much lower quantities. Soil oxygen is contained primarily in the gaseous phase at the soil, and only to a small extent in the soil water. The content of carbon dioxide in the soil varies dynamically in a manner opposite to that of oxygen content. In the case of well-aerated soils its increase is approximately equal to the decrease in the oxygen content.
