Types of Soil

Sandy Soil Clay Soil Silt Soil Peat Soil Chalk Soil Loam Soil
→ Round/angular → < 0.002mm → < 0.05 mm to Peat soil is high Chalk soil can Loam soil is a
→ < 2mm to > → Heavy soil > 0.002 mm in organic be either light mixture of
0.05mm → 25% clay matter and or heavy but sand, silt and
→ “Light soils” → Small → Fine medium- retains a large always highly clay that are
→ Feels gritty. spaces sized particles amount of alkaline due combined to
→ Large particles between → Smaller than moisture. to the avoid the
with large particles sand calcium negative
spaces → Drains → Floury rarely found in a carbonate or effects of each
between them slowly. powdery garden and lime within its type.
→ Drains quickly. → Can be → Erosion by often imported structure.
→ Fewer nutrients molded to glaciers into a garden to These soils are
→ Not good for shape. → Light and provide an As these soils fertile, easy to
growing plants → Add water – moisture optimum soil are alkaline, work with and
swells. retentive soil base for they will not provide good
→ Water → High fertility planting. support the drainage.
evaporates rate growth of Depending on
– shrinks and → Easily ericaceous their
become compacted. plants that predominant
hard → Drains & holds require acidic composition
moisture well. soils to grow. they can be
→ Prone to be either sandy or
washed clay loam.
away
 6 LAYERS OF THE SOIL
O ORGANIC → The top, organic layer of soil, made up mostly of leaf litter and humus (decomposed organic matter).
→ It is the layer has a high percentage of organic matter. O horizons contain ≥ 20% organic carbon.
→ The O horizon is thin in some soils, thick in others, and not present at all in others.
A TOPSOIL → Seeds germinate and plant roots grow in this dark colored layer. This dark decomposed organic matter is
called "humus".
→ The technical definition of an A horizon may vary between the systems, but it is most commonly described in
terms relative to deeper layers.
→ "A" horizon may be darker in color than deeper layers and contain more organic matter, or they may be
lighter but contain less clay or pedogenic oxides.
E ELUVIATION → "E", being short for eluviated, is most commonly used to label a horizon that has been significantly leached of
LAYER its mineral and/or organic content, leaving a pale layer largely composed of silicates or silica.
→ These are present only in older, well-developed soils, and generally occur between the A and B horizons.
B SUB SOIL → B Horizon consists of mineral layers which are significantly altered by pedogenesis, mostly with the formation
of iron oxides and clay minerals.
→ It is usually brownish or reddish due to the iron oxides, which increases the chroma of the subsoil to a degree
that it can be distinguished from the other horizons.
→ The B horizon can also accumulate minerals and organic matter that are migrating downwards from the A
and E horizons.
→ If so, this layer is also known as the illuviated or illuvial horizon.
C REOLITH → C horizon consists of slightly broken up bedrock.
→ Plant roots do not penetrate into this layer; very little organic material is found in this layer. This layer is little
affected by pedogenesis.
→ Clay illuviation, if present, is not significant. The absence of solum-type development (pedogenesis) is one of
the defining attributes.
→ The C horizon forms either in deposits (e.g., loess, flood deposits, landslides) or it formed from weathering of
residual bedrock.
R BEDROCK → R horizons denote the layer of partially weathered or unweathered bedrock at the base of the soil profile.
→ Unlike the above layers, R horizons largely comprise continuous masses (as opposed to boulders) of hard rock
that cannot be excavated by hand.
→ If there is no lithologic discontinuity between the solum and the R horizon, the R horizon resembles the parent
material of the solum.
 Characteristics of Soil
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.
Soil Structure → Soil structure refers to the grouping of soil particles (sand, silt, clay,
organic matter, and fertilizers) into porous compounds. These are called
aggregates.
→ Soil structure is important for plant growth, regulating the movement of
air and water, influencing root development and affecting nutrient
availability.
Soil Porosity → Soil porosity 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.
Soil Color → Soil color is produced by the minerals present and by the organic matter
content.