Name Muhammad Zohaib Khan

Registration no BSETC-021R19-4

Semester 3rd semester

Subject Soil Mechanics

Instructor name Engr.Mahwish Saleem

Assignment 02
Soil Constituents and properties

A soil is simply a porous medium consisting of minerals, water, gases,

organic matter, and microorganisms. The traditional definition is: Soil is
a dynamic natural body having properties derived from the combined
effects of climate and biotic activities, as modified by topography,
acting on parent materials over time.
There are five basic components of soil that, when present in the
proper amounts, are the backbone of all terrestrial plant ecosystems.

Soil texture

Soil is made up of different-sized particles. Soil texture refers to the size

of the particles that make up the soil and depends on the proportion of
sand, silt and clay-sized particles and organic matter in the soil. Sandy
soils feel gritty when rubbed between your fingers. Silts feel smooth – a
little like flour. Most clays are sticky and mouldable. If you’ve ever used
pottery clay, you’ll know the feeling.
Soils are made up of different combinations of sand, silt and clay
particles. Soils that are a mixture of sand, silt and clay are called loams.
The name of the soil often identifies the dominant particle, for
example, Timaru silt loam describes a soil that has a predominance of
silt. Other examples of New Zealand soils are Waikare clay and Te
Kopuru sand.
Soil texture can influence whether soils are free draining, whether they
hold water and how easy it is for plant roots to grow.
Sand particles are quite big. The pore spaces between the particles in
sandy soils are also quite large. This allows water to drain quickly and
air to enter the soil. Sandy soils tend not to get waterlogged in winter
but can be subject to drought during summer.

Silt particles are too small for us to see with our eyes. Silt soils have
much smaller pore spaces but a lot more of them.

Clay particles are smaller than 0.002 mm in diameter. Clay soils are
poorly drained and hold on to the water in their pore spaces for much
longer. However, they can become very hard if they dry out.

Soil structure

Soil structure describes the way the sand, silt and clay particles are
clumped together. Organic matter (decaying plants and animals) and
soil organisms like earthworms and bacteria influence soil structure.
Clays, organic matter and materials excreted by soil organisms bind the
soil particles together to form aggregates. Soil structure is important for
plant growth, regulating the movement of air and water, influencing
root development and affecting nutrient availability. Good quality soils
are friable (crumbly) and have fine aggregates so the soil breaks up
easily if you squeeze it. Poor soil structure has coarse, very firm clods or
no structure at all.

Soil porosity

It refers to the pores within the soil. Porosity influences the movement
of air and water. Healthy soils have many pores between and within the
aggregates. Poor quality soils have few visible pores, cracks or holes.
The way in which a soil is managed can affect its porosity. For example,
look at areas around your school where students regularly walk. If the
grass is worn away and the soil is exposed, it often looks different
because it has been compacted and has had its structure and porosity
altered. These are also areas where puddles form because the water is
not able to drain away.

Soil chemistry

Clays and organic matter in the soil carry negative charges. Water in the
soil dissolves nutrients and other chemicals. Nutrients like potassium
and ammonium have positive charges. They are attracted to the
negatively charged organic and mineral matter, and this prevents them
from being lost through leaching as water moves through the
soil. Nitrate has a negative charge so it is not protected from leaching in
most soils.
Soils can be acid, alkaline or neutral. Soil pH influences nutrient
absorption and plant growth. Some plants, like kūmara and potatoes,
grow best in a more acidic soil (pH of 5.0–6.0). Carrots and lettuces
prefer soils with a neutral pH of 7.0. Soils can become more acidic over
time as minerals are leached away. Lime is often added to soil to make
it less acidic. New Zealand paddocks are regularly limed to improve
pasture growth.

Soil colour

If you thought that all soils are brown, think again. Soil colours range
from black to red to white. Sometimes it can even be blue! Soil colour
mostly comes from organic matter and iron. Topsoil is often dark
because of organic matter. An even, single colour indicates the soil is
well drained. In contrast, rusty spots and grey patches (sometimes even
a light blue in colour) indicate poor drainage.