Different Types
of Soil
BY: JOAN B.
BUENDIA
PARTIDO STATE
UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF
EDUCATION
jo22buendia@yahoo.com
jo22buendia@yahoo.com
There are different types of soil and each type exhibits certain properties.
Each type of soil has a specific texture, color, water holding capacity, etc.
Keep reading to learn more about the various types of soil and their
characteristics.
There are many soil classification systems. There are two major systems are the
vernacular system and scientific system. Vernacular system is developed by land
users. For example, in vernacular system soil can be categorized as red soil,
black soil, yellow soil, hot soil, etc. In scientific system the soil can be
categorized according to the development of soil or the amount of substances
present in the soil. As there are various systems to classify soils, it means
soil classification is not static. This makes soil classification vast and sometimes
confusing. However, mostly classification of soil is based on the size of the
particles it contains. Categorizing soil or dirt by the size of particles is
most common, and can be easily performed at home. This classification helps to
understand the basic properties of the soil and helps to conclude if the type
of soil is good enough for gardening or farming.
Soil Types
Sandy Soil
To check if soil is sandy, moisten a small sample of
soil and try to make a ball using your palms. If the soil is sandy, then no
dirt balls will form and the soil will crumble and fall through the fingers.
This soil type has the biggest particles; and the bigger size of the particles in a soil the better is aeration and drainage of the soil. This soil is granular and consists of rock and mineral particles that are very small. Therefore the texture is gritty. Sandy soil is formed by the disintegration and weathering of rocks such as limestone, granite, quartz and shale. Sandy soil is easier to cultivate if it is rich in organic material, but then it allows drainage more than is needed, thus resulting in over-drainage and dehydration of the plants in summer. It warms very fast in the spring season. So if you want to grow your plant in sandy soil, it is imperative that you water it regularly in the summers and give a break in the winters and rainy season. Sandy soil retains a certain amount of moisture and nutrients. In a way sandy soil is good for plants since it lets the water drain easily, so that it prevents root rot problems.
This soil type has the biggest particles; and the bigger size of the particles in a soil the better is aeration and drainage of the soil. This soil is granular and consists of rock and mineral particles that are very small. Therefore the texture is gritty. Sandy soil is formed by the disintegration and weathering of rocks such as limestone, granite, quartz and shale. Sandy soil is easier to cultivate if it is rich in organic material, but then it allows drainage more than is needed, thus resulting in over-drainage and dehydration of the plants in summer. It warms very fast in the spring season. So if you want to grow your plant in sandy soil, it is imperative that you water it regularly in the summers and give a break in the winters and rainy season. Sandy soil retains a certain amount of moisture and nutrients. In a way sandy soil is good for plants since it lets the water drain easily, so that it prevents root rot problems.
Silty
Soil
To check if the soil you have is silty, take a small amount of moist soil and rub it between your fingers. If the soil is silty soil, it will feel slick and stick to your fingers.
Silty soil is considered to be one of the most fertile of soils. It can occur in nature as soil or as suspended sediment in water column of a water body on the surface of the earth. It is composed of minerals like quartz and fine organic particles. It is granular like sandy soil but it has more nutrients than sandy soil and offers better drainage. In case silty soil is dry it has a smoother texture and looks like dark sand. This type of soil can hold more moisture and at times becomes compact. It offers better drainage and is much easier to work with when it has moisture.
Clay Soil
To identify if the soil is clay soil, take a soil
sample and damp it with water. Feel it between your palms. You will find clay
soil is sticky and retains a good amount of water.
Clay is a kind of material that occurs naturally and consists of very fine grain material with very less air spaces. Due to this it is difficult to work with this soil, because the drainage in this soil is low. Hence, there is possible for water logging to occur, which can harm the roots of the plant. Clay soil becomes very heavy when wet and if cultivation has to be done, organic fertilizers need to be added to the soil. Clay soil is formed after years of rock disintegration and weathering. It is also formed as sedimentary deposits after the rock is weathered, eroded and transported. Clay soil due to its formation process is rich in mineral content.
Given above three types of soil sand, silty and clay are the main ones. Apart from these there are three more soil sub-types mentioned below that contain some amount of the above soils.
Loamy Soil
Clay is a kind of material that occurs naturally and consists of very fine grain material with very less air spaces. Due to this it is difficult to work with this soil, because the drainage in this soil is low. Hence, there is possible for water logging to occur, which can harm the roots of the plant. Clay soil becomes very heavy when wet and if cultivation has to be done, organic fertilizers need to be added to the soil. Clay soil is formed after years of rock disintegration and weathering. It is also formed as sedimentary deposits after the rock is weathered, eroded and transported. Clay soil due to its formation process is rich in mineral content.
Given above three types of soil sand, silty and clay are the main ones. Apart from these there are three more soil sub-types mentioned below that contain some amount of the above soils.
Loamy Soil
This soil consists of sand, silt and clay to some
extent. It is considered to be the perfect soil for gardening. The texture is
gritty and retains water very easily, yet the drainage is good. There are
various kinds of loamy soil ranging from fertile to very muddy and thick sod.
Yet out of all the different kinds of soil, loamy soil is ideal for
cultivation. So, in case you are thinking of starting a vegetable patch or a
small garden, apply a layer of loamy soil to the garden before you start plantation.
Peaty Soil
Peaty Soil
This kind of soil is basically formed by the accumulation of dead and decayed organic matter, it naturally contains much more organic matter than most of the soils. It is generally found in marshy areas. The decomposition of the organic matter in this soil is blocked by the acidity of the soil. This kind of soil is formed in wet climate. Though the soil is rich in organic matter, nutrients present are fewer in this soil type than any other type. Peaty soil is prone to water logging, but if the soil is fertilized well and the drainage of the soil is looked after, it can be the ideal for growing plants.
Chalky Soil
Unlike peaty soil, chalky soil is very alkaline in nature and consists of a large number of stones. The fertility of this kind of soil depends on the depth of the soil that is on the bed of chalk. This kind of soil is prone to dryness and in summers it is a poor choice for plantation, as the plants would need much more watering and fertilizing than on any other type of soil. Chalky soil, apart from being dry also blocks the nutritional elements for the plants like iron and magnesium.
Besides the above classification of soil, the next popular classification of soil is according to the pH level of soil. In this classification, soil is either acidic or alkaline soil depending on the amount of humus, organic matter and the underlying bedrock. But, no matter what the type of soil is, every soil has its own advantages and disadvantages and there are various plants that have different requirements. Because, all plants do not need the same kind of soil.
The Ideal Soil Type: Loam
The type of soil that
gardens and gardeners love is loamy soil. It contains a balance of all three
soil materials—silt, sand and clay—plus humus. It has a higher pH and calcium
levels because of its previous organic matter content.
Loam is dark in color and is mealy—soft, dry and crumbly—in your hands. It has a tight hold on water and plant food but it drains well, and air moves freely between soil particles down to the roots.
Loam is dark in color and is mealy—soft, dry and crumbly—in your hands. It has a tight hold on water and plant food but it drains well, and air moves freely between soil particles down to the roots.
The feel test for loam
yields a smooth, partly gritty, partly sticky ball that crumbles easily.Although loamy soil is
the ideal material to work with, don’t despair if you don’t have it in your
garden. That’s because soil will always favor one particles size over the two
others. Then again, there are many ways to condition your soil—adding
beneficial soil inoculants,
covering your soil with compost, or simply spraying leaves and soil with compost tea.
Loam Soil
Additional Information
The soil is perhaps the most overlooked, underrated, taken for granted but major partner in growing. When plotting gardens, how many have passed over getting to know their soil—reading up on soil facts—in favor of planning the layout of their gardens? How many have agonized over which plant goes with what month, foregoing reading on soil information about their area first?
Admittedly, there’s hydroponics, a good alternative to growing without soil. But it’s a specialized field, requires specialized equipment and regular monitoring of inputs, temperature and other key data. For most, soil is still the preferred method for planting vegetables and growing trees.
Soil is a non-renewable resource—at least, that part of the soil fit for planting. And soil doesn’t appear by magic. No wand-waving fairy chanted some abracadabra in the night to create soil. It’s a slow process.
To better understand soil, let’s brush up on some facts about good ol’ soil before we start digging up some dirt.
8.http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?q=sandy+soil&um=1&hl=fil&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=1366&bih=641&tbm=isch&tbnid=p_EOBW-bGnLdHM:&imgrefurl=http://www.garden-design-it-yourself.com/garden-help.html&docid=MQlvvzio8n2VYM&imgurl=http://www.garden-design-it-yourself.com/images/garden_help_sandy_soil.jpg&w=340&h=226&ei=7A8bUebsGoXxrQfO6IGQBw&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:25,s:0,i:162&iact=rc&dur=894&sig=108530654582389074761&page=2&tbnh=174&tbnw=269&start=17&ndsp=23&tx=185&ty=64
9. http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/soil
10. http://agverra.com/blog/soil-facts/
9. http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/soil
10. http://agverra.com/blog/soil-facts/
Prepared by:
BUENDIA, JOAN B. BEED-2B
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