DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOIL

Soil is what forms the surface of land. It is a major component of the earth’s ecosystem. Earth’s body of soil is known as pedosphere, and is composed of organic and inorganic materials. Soils are complex mixtures of minerals, organic matter, water, air and countless organisms that together support life. It supports plant life and is important to life on earth. The pedosphere has some distinct functions. They serve as a medium for plant growth; as means of water storage, supply and purification; as a modifier of Earth’s atmosphere; and most importantly as a habitat for organisms. Soil can be classified into six different types. They are namely- sandy, clay, silty, peaty, chalky and loamy soil. Each soil type has different properties, and is mainly classified by its texture, proportions and different forms of organic and mineral compositions.

Sandy Soil

Sandy soil consists of small particles of weathered rocks. Sandy soil has quick water drainage and are comparatively easy to work with. They are quicker to warm up in comparison with clay soil during the spring season, but they dry out in summer and holds fewer nutrients as they are washed away by rain. These type of soil feels gritty, drains easily, dries out fast and are easy to cultivate. It is one of the poorest type of soil for growing plants because of low nutrients and poor water holding capacity. Because of this it becomes difficult for the plant’s roots to absorb water. Sandy soil requires organic reformations such as glacial rock dust, green sand, kelp meal, or other organic fertilizer blends. Sandy soil is usually formed by the breakdown or fragmentation of rocks like granite, limestone and quartz.

Clay Soil

Particles in clay soil are tightly packed together with each other with almost no airspace. This type of soil has very good water storage qualities as these soils drain slowly and makes it hard for moisture and air to penetrate into it, and does not provide space for plant roots to flourish. Clay soil remains wet and cold during winters and dries out during summer. It is the densest and heaviest soil type, which feels lumpy and sticky when wet, and very hard when dry. Clay soil benefits from high nutrients.

Silty Soil

Silty soil is light in comparison to the sandy soil and has a great moisture retaining capacity. It feels soft and soapy. It has a high fertility rating and is usually very rich in nutrients, which is why it is also used in agricultural practices for improving soil fertility. Silty soil is made up of rock and other mineral particles which are smaller than sand but are larger than clay. Silty soil is smooth and of quite fine quality which provides better moisture retention. As the particles are fine, they can easily be transported by moving currents, can be easily compacted and are prone to washing away with rain. This type of soil is mainly found near the river, lake and other water bodies.

Peaty Soil

Peaty soil is very rarely found in a garden setup. It is often imported into a garden to provide a favorable soil base for planting. It is darker soil and feels damp and spongy as it contains a high level of peat. It is high in organic matter and can retain a large amount of moisture. During spring season it heats up quickly and can retain a lot of water which usually requires drainage. Peaty soils are acidic which slows down decomposition and leads to the soil having fewer nutrients. This type of soil is great for growth when it is mixed with rich organic matter, compost and lime in order to diminish the acidity.

Chalky Soil

Compared to other soil types, chalky soil has larger grains and generally stonier. Chalky soil has calcium carbonate or lime within its structure which makes it highly alkaline. The alkaline nature of the soil makes it not suitable for the growth of ericaceous plants that require acidic soils for their growth. The alkaline nature can be resolved by using appropriate fertilizers and by balancing the pH. If chalky soil shows signs of white lumps then they cannot be acidified, and it is then recommended to choose only plants that grows well in alkaline soil.

Loamy Soil

Loamy soil is a combination of sand, clay and silt. The combination is done to avoid the negative effects of each type. It feels fine textured and slightly damp in nature. This type of soil are fertile and are easy to work with. It has ideal characteristics for gardening, lawns, or shrubs. It provides good drainage and is also referred to as an agricultural soil as it includes an equilibrium of all three types of soil in the combination. Loamy soil can retain moisture and nutrients which makes it very suitable for farming. It warms up quickly during spring and doesn’t dry out quickly in summer. This type of soil tend to be acidic in nature and requires to be replenished with organic matter on a regular basis.