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Soil Characteristic pt 1
By: Agil Harnowo Putra S.T.,M.T
Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jawa Timur
agil.harnowo@gmail.com
Overview 2nd Meeting
 Soil Profile and Formation
 Soil Properties and Texture
 Soil Structure
 Soil Tilth
Soil Profile and Formation
 Soil is the thin layer of material covering the earth’s
surface and is formed from the weathering of rocks
 It is made up mainly of mineral particles, organic
materials, air, water and living organism-all of which
interact slowly yet constantly
 Soil is a valuable resource that need to be carefully
managed it is easily damaged
Soil Profile and Formation
 As soil develop over time,
layers (or horizons) form a soil
profile
 Most soil profiles cover the
earth as 5 main layers which
are :
 O (organic)
 A (Surface)
 B (Subsoil)
 C (Substratum)
 R (Bedrock)
Soil Profile and Formation
 Surface soil, consist from layer
of mineral soil with most
organic matter accumulation
and soil life, due to weathering,
oxides and clay minerals are
formed and accumulated
 Subsoil, has normally less
organic matter than the A
horizon, it’s color mainly
derived from iron oxides. The B
horizon has generally a soil
structure
Soil Profile and Formation
 Substratum, layer of non-
indurated poorly weathered or
un-weathered rocks. This layer
may accumulate the more
soluble compounds like CaCO3,
soil formed in situ from non-
indurated material exhibit
 Bedrock, or R horizons denote
the layer of partially weathered
or un-weathered bedrock at the
base of the soil profile. Unlike
the above layers, R horizons
largely comprise continuous
masses of hard rock that cannot
be excavated by hand
Soil Properties and Texture
 All soils contain mineral
particles, organic matter,
water and air
 These combinations determine
the soil properties, decided by:
 Texture
 Structure
 Porosity
 Chemistry
 Color
Soil Properties and Texture
 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
 Sand particles are quite big, the pore between the
particles in sandy soils are also quite large
 Silt particles are too small for us to see with our eyes, silt
soils have much small pore spaces but a lot more of them
 Clay particles are smaller than 0.0002 mm in diameter.
Clay soils are poorly drained and hold on to the water in
their pore spaces for much longer
Pokapu Akoranga Putaiao
New Zealand Govenrment, 2019
Soil Properties and Texture (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
 The way in which a soil Is managed can affect its porosity

Pokapu Akoranga Putaiao

New Zealand Govenrment, 2019
Soil Properties and Texture (Chemistry)
 Soil chemistry is one of the aspect that effect the type of
soil properties
 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 Pokapu Akoranga Putaiao
New Zealand Govenrment, 2019
Soil Properties and Texture (colors)
 Soil colors range from black to red to white
 Soil color mostly comes from organic matter and iron
 Topsoil is often dark because of organic matter
 An even, single color indicates the soil is well drained. In contrast,
rusty spots and grey patches (sometimes even a light blue in color)
indicate poor drainage

Pokapu Akoranga Putaiao

New Zealand Govenrment, 2019
Soil Properties and Texture
 Soil color is produced by the minerals present and by the
organic matter content
 Yellow or red soil indicates the presence of oxidized ferric
iron oxides.
 Dark brown or black color in soil indicates that the soil has
a high organic matter content.
 Wet soil will appear darker than dry soil.
 However, the presence of water also affects soil color by
affecting the oxidation rate.
 Soil that has a water level content will have less air in the
soil, specifically less oxygen

The Color of Soil, United States

Department of Agriculture 2007
Soil
Properties
and Texture

Original Chart S.J Thien 1979

United States Department of Agriculture, 2019
Soil Properties and Texture
Soil Structure
 Soil structure refers to the arrangement of
soil separates into units called soil
aggregates.
 An aggregate possesses solids and pore
space.
 Aggregates are separated by planes of
weakness and are dominated by clay
particles.
 Silt and fine sand particles may also be part
of an aggregate. The aggregate acts like a
larger silt or sand particle depending upon
its size
Soil Structure
 The arrangement of soil aggregates into different forms
gives a soil its structure. The natural processes that aid in
forming aggregates are:
 Wetting and drying
 Freezing and thawing
 Microbial activity that aids in the decay of organic matter
 Activity of roots and soil animals
 Adsorbed cations
 The wetting/drying and freezing/thawing action as well as
root or animal activity push particles back and forth to form
aggregates. Decaying plant residues and microbial
byproducts coat soil particles and bind particles into
aggregates. Adsorbed cations help form aggregates
whenever a cation is bonded to two or more particle
Soil Structure
Type Descriptpion

Granular Rounded surfaces

Crumb Rounded surfaces but larger than granular

Subangular blocky Cube-like with flattened surfaces and rounded

corners

Blocky Cube-like with flattened surfaces and sharp corners

Prismatic Rectangular with a long vertical dimension and

flattened top

Columnar Rectangular with a long vertical dimension and

rounded top

Platy Rectangular with a long horizontal dimension

Single Grain No aggregation of coarse particles when dry

Structureless No aggregation of fine particles when dry

Soil Tilth
Encylopedia Britannica (Tilth), 2015
 Soil tilth is its physical condition of soil, especially in
relation to its suitability for planting or growing a crop.
Factors that determine tilth include :
 the formation and stability of aggregated soil particles
 Moisture content
 degree of aeration, rate of water infiltration and drainage
 Tilth can change rapidly, depending on environmental
factors such as changes in moisture, tillage and soil
amendments.
 The objective of tillage (mechanical manipulation of the
soil) is to improve tilth, thereby increasing crop production;
in the long term, however, conventional tillage, especially
plowing, often has the opposite effect, causing the soil to
break down and become compacted
Soil Tilth
 Soil with good tilth has large pore spaces for air infiltration
and water movement. Roots only grow where the soil tilth
allows for adequate levels of soil oxygen. Such soil also
holds a reasonable supply of water and nutrients
 Tillage, organic matter amendments, fertilization and
irrigation can each improve tilth, but when used
excessively, can have the opposite effect. Crop rotation and
cover crops can positively impact tilth. A combined
approach can produce the greatest improvement

Managing Soil Tilth, David Whitting 2015

Soil Tilth
 Soil tilth can be obtained through mechanical and biological
manipulation

Tillage Biological

Rotation
Soil Tilth- Management by Tillage
 Mechanical soil cultivation practices, including primary
tillage (mold-board or chisel plowing) followed by secondary
tillage (disking, harrowing, etc.), break up and aerate soil.
 When soils become degraded and compacted, such tillage
practices are often deemed necessary.
 The tilth created by tillage, however, tends to be unstable,
because the aggregation is obtained through the physical
manipulation of the soil, which is short lived, especially
after years of intensive tillage.
 Aggregates in such soils readily dissolve during subsequent
rains, causing the soil to settle and become dense and hard,
requiring further tillage.
Soil Tilth-Management by Biological
 The preferred scenario for good tilth is as the result of
natural soil-building processes, provided by the activity of
plant roots, microorganisms, earthworms and other
beneficial organisms.
 Such stable aggregates break apart during tillage/planting
and readily provide good tilth.
 Stable aggregates are held together by organic bonds that
resist breakdown during soil saturation.
 These organic materials are themselves subject to biological
degradation, requiring active amendments with organic
material, and minimal mechanical tillage
Soil Tilth-Management by Rotation
 Crop rotation can help restore tilth in compacted soils. Two
processes contribute to this gain.
 First, accelerated organic matter decomposition from tillage
ends under the sod crop. Another way to achieve this is via no-
till farming.
 Second, grass and legume sods develop extensive root systems
that continually grow and die off.
 The dead roots supply a source of active organic matter,
which feeds soil organisms that create aggregation.
 Beneficial organisms need continual supplies of organic
matter to sustain themselves and they deposit the digested
materials on soil aggregates and thereby stabilize them.
 Also, the living roots and symbiotic microorganisms (for
example, mycorrhizal fungi) can exude organic materials
that nourish soil organisms and help with aggregation.
Thank You