Reference 3 Different types of soil

Summary
Soil is often the most important asset of smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. This technical reference
presents the different types of soil, their characteristics and the simple indicators for recognizing them.

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the crops that can be cultivated because they will be adapted to the soil and will provide good crop
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Figure 3.1. Soil texture 5 mm

8 PLAR–IRM Curriculum: Technical Manual (Wopereis et al., 2009).

 Reference 3
Different types of soil

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colors predominate in topsoil layers, while in the lower layers the colors of iron oxide or manganese
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Color changes can provide some indications about the moisture status of the soil, because in dry and
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Soil texture
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PLAR–IRM Curriculum: Technical Manual (Wopereis et al., 2009). 9

 Reference 3
Different types of soil

Table 3.1 Important soil characteristics and their relation to soil texture
Characteristics Sand Loam Clay
Drainage Fast Average Slow
Retention capacity Low Average High
Capacity to stock nutrients Low Average High
Organic matter content Low Average High
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How to observe and determine soil texture

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Figure 3.2. Method to determine soil

the texture Clayey

10 PLAR–IRM Curriculum: Technical Manual (Wopereis et al., 2009).

 Reference 3
Different types of soil

Soil structure
Soil structure is linked to the organization of primary particles, such as grains of sand, loam and clay in
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Figure 3.3. Soil aggregates lumps with high organic matter content (1 in dry condition and 3 in moist
condition) are more stable than soil aggregates lumps with a low organic matter content (2 in dry
condition and 4 in moist condition)

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Bibliography
%UDG\1&DQG55:HLOThe Nature and Properties of Soils WK(GQ3UHQWLFH+DOO8SSHU6DGGOH
5LYHU86$SS
&,5$'*5(7DQG0LQLVWqUHGHV$IIDLUHV(WUDQJqUHVMémento de l’AgronomeSS
'HIRHU7$%XGHOPDQ&7RXOPLQDQG6(&DUWHU%XLOGLQJFRPPRQNQRZOHGJH$5HVRXUFH*XLGH
IRUSDUWLFLSDWRU\OHDUQLQJDQGDFWLRQUHVHDUFK,Q7'HIRHUDQG$%XGHOPDQHGV Managing Soil Fertility
in the Tropics: A ResourceGuide for Participatory Learning and Action Research5R\DO7URSLFDO,QVWLWXWH
.,7$PVWHUGDP7KH1HWKHUODQGV

PLAR–IRM Curriculum: Technical Manual (Wopereis et al., 2009). 11

 Reference 3
Different types of soil

)$50SURJUDPPHFarmer Field School on Integrated Soil Management. Facilitator’s Manual)$2

)$50SURJUDPPH%DQJNRN7KDLODQG
)$2Guidelines for Soil DescriptionUG(GQUHYLVHG)$25RPHSS
)RWK+'Fundamentals of Soil Science-RKQ:LOH\1HZ<RUN86$
/DQGRQ-5Booker Tropical Soil Manual. A Handbook for Soil Survey and Agricultural Land Evaluation
in the Tropics and Subtropics/RQJPDQ/RQGRQ8.
3LHUL&Fertilité des terres de savanne. Bilan de trente ans de recherche et de développement agricole au
sud du Sahara0LQLVWqUHGHODFRRSpUDWLRQ&HQWUH,QWHUQDWLRQDOGH5HFKHUFKH$JULFROHHW'pYHORSSPHQW
DQG,QVWLWXWGH5HFKHUFKH$JURQRPLTXH7URSLFDOH&,5$',5$73DULV)UDQFH
6DQFKH]3$Properties and Management of Soils in the Tropics:LOH\,QWHUVFLHQFH&KLFKHVWHU8.

12 PLAR–IRM Curriculum: Technical Manual (Wopereis et al., 2009).