Permaculture practices effect on soil fertility and organic matter distribution in aggregate-size classes

The agricultural transition must address the need for a sustainable agricultural productivity. In this regard, the role played by soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics in aggregates is key. Here we aimed to study the impact of permaculture and biointensive micro-gardening practices on soil fertility parameters and SOM distribution in aggregate fractions. In identical geopedoclimatic conditions, we compared SOM dynamics in a pasture that evolved towards cultivation under permaculture practices for twelve years and with a soil under conventional agriculture practices. For this purpose, soils were separated into three aggregate-size fractions (2000-500, 250-50 and <50 µm) by wet sieving. Macroaggregates (2000-250 µm) were separated into coarse particulate organic matter (POM), microaggregates within macroaggregates (250-50µm) and silt and clay (