Soil Structure

What is the Soil Structure?

How do we Describe Structure?

What is Going On in this Photo?

 Soil Structure
 “Structure is the naturally occurring arrangement of soil
particles into aggregates (peds) that result from pedogenic
processes.

 The grouping or arrangement of individual soil particles

into a larger grouping. The soil peds are a cluster or
grouping of sand, silt, clay, organic material, biological
slimes, and fungal masses.

 Three general groups

 Natural Soil Structural Units (pedogenic structure)
 Structureless
 Artificial Earthy Fragments or Clods
 Describing Soil Structure
 Type – shape of the structure
 Size – relative size of the structure

 Grade – how well the structure is

expressed in place.

When described in a soil profile the full description of the structure is describe
in the following order – grade, size, shape.
 Soil Structure

 Type

 Size

 Grade
 Soil Structural Types
 Granular
 Blocky
 Angular Blocky
 Subangular Blocky
 Platy
 Wedge
 Prismatic
 Columnar
 Massive
 Single Grain
Granular

Small Polyhedrons or
Spheroids
Bounded by Curved or
Irregular Surfaces
Symbol for Structure (gr)
 Blocky
Subangular or Angular
Subangular Blocky – the
three dimensions are about
the same size, but
polyhedrons are subrounded.
Symbol (sbk)

Angular Blocky – the three

dimensions are about the
same size, but edges are
shape and faces appear
flattened. Symbol (abk)
 Platy – Flat and Tabular- Units

Structure has a horizontal dimension that is longer or greater than the vertical
dimension. The plates tend to parallel the surface. Typical Symbol (pl or PL)
Wedge Structures

Elliptical Interlocking lenses that

terminate in acute angles, bounded
by slickensides. This structure is
Not limited to Vertic martials or
Vertisols. Symbol: WEG

Soil: Has a High Clay Content- with

Expanding clays.
 Prismatic Structure
Photo 1
Symbol pr or PR Photo 2
Typically associated with
X fragipan and other similar
horizons. These are prismlike
Structural units where the length
Y and width is significantly
Less than the depth.
(Vertical Structures)
Z
These structures have flat tops or
caps. Water movement tends to
be associated with movement
along the vertical contact
between units.

A soil with a prismatic structure may also have secondary

structural units – Photo 2 has a platy secondary structure.
 Columnar
Symbol cpr or COL

Prism-like structural units where

the length of the unit in the x
and y direction are much less than
the z direction.
Y
X The units tend to have rounded tops.

Z
 Structureless (0)

 Single Grain (non-coherent)

 Massive (coherent mass)
 Massive - Rock Controlled Fabric- May be a
saprolite.
 Single Grain
Symbol sg or SGR

Lacks Structure- Loose

On rupture- more than
50 % of the mass is single
Grain – example beach sand.

Material is NON-Coherant.
 Massive
Symbol m or MA

Structureless material that is coherent,

but is not cemented.
 Massive
Rock Controlled Fabric
Structureless material that is coherent,
but is not cemented or weakly cemented

In this case the material contains the

original apperance of the bedrock material,
but lacks the strength.

Possible – Cr Horizon – Saprolite

 Soil Structure

 Type

 Size
 Grade
 Soil Structure Size
 Very Fine (Very Thin)
 Fine (Thin)
 Medium
 Coarse (Thick)
 Very Coarse (Very Thick)

Section of Size Criteria Depends on

the Structural Units.
 Soil Structure Size Image Source:
NRCS, Ver. 2.0, 2002
(Granular and Blocky)
 Soil Structure Size Image Source:
NRCS, Ver. 2.0, 2002
(Platy and Prismatic)