A Practical Guide to the Use of Steel Rods for the Assessment of Aeration in Urban Soils

Abstract

Diagnosing the reason for poor performance of urban trees requires a means of evaluating soil physical conditions. Soil aeration status can be inferred from the corrosion of steel rods inserted into the ground. The technique is inexpensive, non-destructive and can provide information on the vertical distribution of anaerobic conditions. Practical aspects of the use of steel rods and their interpretation are described.