Porosity--the ability of water to move through the soil
Permeability--the abiity of roots to reach into the soil
Where water goes, roots can follow.
If water cannot penetrate the soil, roots won't either.
Answer:
Porosity is the relationship between the volume of hollow spaces in a rock and its total volume. These spaces may be filled with gas, water or oil. ... Permeability is a measure of the fluid's ability to circulate through a rock without changing its internal structure.
Although the Antarctic region has high porosity, the permeability is low resulting in a high concentration of water and oil and low soil fertility.