Fundamentals

of Crop Science
Crop Science I
Lecture 11
Soil Properties

Physical
 Physical Properties
1. Texture – size and relative proportions of
various size groups in a given soil

2. Structure – arrangement of soil particles

into groups or aggregates

3. Soil Depth – top and sub-soil

4. Topography – physical configuration of the soil

surface (drainage, run-off, erosion)
 Textural Group
The classification by size of the primary
soil particles define a textural group
 Soil Textural
The percent (by weight) of the sand, silt and clay fraction
determines the texture of the soil

Triangle
loam soil that has 45%
sand, 35% silt and 20%
clay content.

Soil Structure
definition: refers to the grouping of particles of
sand, silt, and clay into larger aggregates of
various sizes and shapes
Soil Structure
Structural aggregates resistant to physical stress -
important to the maintenance of soil tilth and
productivity

Decreased Aggregate Stability:

Excessive cultivation or tillage of wet soils disrupt
aggregates and accelerate the loss of organic matter,
causing decreased aggregate stability

Soil Structure
movement of air, water, and plant roots through a
soil is affected by soil structure

Stable Aggregates
result in a network of soil pores that allow rapid
exchange of air and water with plant roots (Plant
growth depends on rapid rates of exchange)
Soil Structure
How to maintain Good Soil Structure:
crop rotation
organic matter addition
timely tillage practices

Sandy Soils
- difficult to maintain aggregate stability due to low
organic matter, clay content and resistance of sand
particles to cementing processes
Soil Structure
Examples of the
most common soil
structures. Also
shown is the
structures' effect on
downward
movement
(infiltration) of
water. (Courtesy of
the NRCS, Section
15 of the National
Engineering
Handbook)

 Soil Depth

definition: refers to the thickness of soil

materials which provide structural support,
nutrients, and water for plants
 Soil Depth
soil's permeability is a measure of the ability
of air and water to move through it.

influenced by: the size, shape, and

continuity of the pore spaces,
which are dependent on: the soil bulk
density, structure and texture
 Infiltration

Infiltration – the entry of water (precipitation or

irrigation) to the soil surface
Infiltration Rate (in/hr) - measure of its ability
to absorb an amount of rain or irrigation water
over a given time period
Percolation - downward flow of water from the
surface through the soil horizons
 Factors that Affect the
Infiltration Rate

1. permeability of the surface soil

2. moisture content of the soil and surface conditions
such as roughness (tillage and plant residue) slope
3. plant cover
 Infiltration Rate
Coarse Textured Soils Medium and Fine
( sands and gravel) Textured Soils
(loams, silts, clays)

> Greater Infiltration Rate

> Greater Water and Plant Nutrient Losses

Therefore, timing and quantity of chemical and water

applications is critical
 Topography

- "lay of the land" or physical configuration of

soil surface
- impact on whether a field can be irrigated
Relief
- component of topography that refers to the
difference in height between the hills and depressions
in the field
- affects the type of irrigation system to be used, the
water conveyance system (ditches or pipes), drainage
requirements and water erosion control practices
 Topography

Other Factors affecting Irrigation Management

1. shape and arrangement of topographic landforms

2. type of surface waterway network
- incline or gradient of a surface (%)

Slope
% slope is determined by measuring the difference
in vertical elevation in feet over 100 feet of
horizontal distance

For example, a 5 percent slope rises or falls 5 feet

per 100 feet of horizontal distance

Slope = rise/run
Slope is important to soil formation
and management

Slope
Slope Influences the following:
runoff
soil drainage
erosion
use of machinery
choice of crops
Soil Properties

Chemical
Chemical Properties

pH
Salinity (EC)
Cation Exchange Capacity
Organic Matter
C:N ratio (Carbon to Nitrogen)
 Soil pH
A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a soil

Neutral = 7.0
Acidic < 7.0
Alkaline > 7.0
.
Logarithmic scale which means that a 1-unit drop in
pH is a 10-fold increase in acidity

 Soil pH & Plant Growth

Affects availability of plant nutrients (in general,

optimal pH is between 5.5 - 7.5
Low pH soils (<6.0) results in an increase in Al
Aluminum is toxic to plants

Affects availability of toxic metals (in general, more

available in acidic soils)

Affects the activity of soil microorganisms,

thus affecting nutrient cycling and disease risk
 Nutrient
Availability
 Increasing Soil pH

Liming materials (pure calcium carbonate or

dolomitic lime) increase soil pH

Other liming materials

Wood ashes – use also to raise soil pH

They also are a source of K, Ca, and Mg
Some composts also can increase soil pH.

 Decreasing Soil pH

Some plants thrive under acidic conditions

Elemental sulfur is often recommended

Ammonium and ammonium-forming N

fertilizers - result in a decrease in soil pH.

Cation-Exchange Capacity

Cation - is a positively charged ion

Most nutrients are cations:

Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, NH4+, Zn2+, Cu2+, and Mn2+

These cations are in the soil solution and are in

dynamic equilibrium with the cations adsorbed on the
surface of clay and organic matter
Cation-Exchange Capacity (CEC)

- is a measure of the quantity of cations that can be

adsorbed and held by a soil

- CEC is dependent upon the amount of organic matter

and clay in soils and on the types of clay

- In general, the higher OM and clay contnt, the higher

the CEC
 Soil Organic Matter

Beneficial impacts on soil properties:

Physical - stabilizes soil structure, improves water holding

characteristics, lowers bulk density, dark color may alter
thermal properties

Chemical - higher CEC, acts as a pH buffer, ties up metals

Biological - supplies energy and body-building constituents

for soil organisms, increases microbial populations and
their activities, source and sink for nutrients, ecosystem
resilience, affects soil enzymes
 Soil Organic Matter

Each year, about 1 to 4% of nutrients in the soil organic

matter are released through microbial transformations to
become available to plants

Release is highest under warm, moist conditions and

slowest in cool dry climates

Microorganisms are the driving force for nutrient release

to plants.
Soil Properties

Biological
Soil Food Web

 Microorganisms
Microorganisms constitute < 0.5% (w/w) of the soil mass yet
they have a major impact on soil properties and processes

60-80 % of total soil metabolism is due to the microflora

Soil
In numbers, soil microorganisms beat out all other organisms
One gram of topsoil may contain:
as many as
1 billion bacteria
100 million actinomycetes
1 million fungi
100 nematodes
 Microorganisms
IMPORTANCE:
Responsible for cycling of C, N and other nutrients

Enhance soil structure

Soil
Relocate and decompose organic materials

Maintain soil quality and health

Increase soil aeration and penetrability

Involved in disease transmission and control

 The Rhizosphere

Plant Roots

Plant Roots: the Rhizosphere

The narrow region of soil directly around roots, teeming with bacteria
that feed on sloughed-off plant cells and the proteins and sugars
released by roots. Protozoa and nematodes graze on bacteria also
concentrated near roots.
Soil Fauna (or zoo)
Macrofauna: Mice, moles, etc.; Earthworms and other
worms; Ants, beetles, termites, spiders
Mesofauna: Nematodes, arthropods (mites,
centipedes, and springtails), mollusks
Microfauna: Protozoa
Importance of Soil Fauna
Important in mixing and redistributing OM
Enhances soil physical properties
Neutralize soil pH
Increase the availability of many nutrients
Stimulate microbial populations
May reduce levels of harmful nematodes
Soil Microorganisms
Bacteria
Most numerous in soil
Most diverse metabolism
Can be aerobic or anaerobic
Optimal growth at pH 6-8

Examples:
Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter in nitrification
processes, N2 fixers, fire blight is caused by a
bacterium
 Quiz
1-3. Classification of crops based on need for
moisture.
4. Crop growth stage which is considered most
sensitive to water limitation/drought.
5. TRUE or FALSE. Carbon dioxide and water
vapor are examples of greenhouse gases.
6. TRUE or FALSE. As wind speed increases, leaf
area and branch area may be reduced three-
fold.
7-10. Enumerate four physical properties of soil.
thank you
AGRI 31 Lecture 11