SOIL

TYPES OF SOIL

By: Mrs Jyoti Singh

 Types of soil
• Weathering of rocks form small particles of sand and
clay.
• The amount of sand and clay in soil depend upon the
parent rock from which the particles form.
• Soil can be also defined as the mixture of rock
particles i.e. sand, clay and humus.
• Based on the amount of various sized particles, soil
can be divided into three types-
 Sandy soil
*When the soil contains large amount of big particles
i.e. sand, the soil is called as sandy soil.
*Large sand particles have space filled with air in
between the particles because these cannot pack
closely.
*Water drain quickly thus sandy soils are light, mixed
well with air, dry and have low water retention capacity.
Clayey soil
*When the soil contains large amount of small particles
i.e. clay, the soil is called as clayey soil.
*Small clay particles have little space for air because
these pack closely and water can be easily held in the
very small spaces.
*Clayey soils are heavy because of greater water
holding capacity than sandy soils; these are wet and
not well aerated.
 Loamy soil
• *When the soil contains equal amount of big and small
particles i.e. equal amount of sand and clay, the soil is
called as loamy soil.
• *Along with sand and clay, another type of soil slit which is
having size in between sand and clay form loamy soils.
• *It contains appropriate amount of water for the growth of
plants.
• *Humus is also found in loamy soils.
• *Loamy soils are wet, have great water retention capacity
and well aerated.
• *If loamy soil contains more sand then the soil is light and if
contains more clay then the soil is heavy.