The objective of this study was to develop a conceptual framework to study soil aggregate dynamics through the integration of aggregation, disruption, stabilization and destabilization processes of soil constituent units. The authors used aggregate‐size distribution and water stability of macroaggregates to evaluate changes in soil aggregates in two ecosystems where one is the ‘reference’ state and the other is the ‘new’ state.

The framework was validated with data from a (i) non‐buffered annual row crop (ARC) system, (ii) no‐till (NT) system and (iii) bare fallow (BF) system. The dynamics of soil aggregates in the ARC were dominated by the disruption of aggregates (the aggregation–disruption index (ADI) was –0.08), in NT by the aggregation process (ADI = 0.03) and in BF by the disruption of aggregates (ADI = –0.20). Three pathways were observed: (i) expression of the aggregation process essential in reestablishing soil structure and functionality, (ii) expression of the disruption process critical in the destruction of soil structure and (iii) prevalence of mixed behaviour where the dominant process depended on the relative rate of aggregation and disruption.

The proposed framework and study of the carbon associated with aggregates could pave the way to the development of a methodology for the quantitative study of soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics, carbon inputs (outputs), soil carbon fractions, and edaphic and biotic conditions that regulate SOC dynamics.