Soil

The loose surface layer that covers the majority of the land is known as soil. It is made up of both inorganic and organic particles. Soil provides structural support for agricultural plants as well as a source of water and nutrients.

What do soil colours indicate?

The organic matter content of the soil, the parent material from which soil is generated, the degree of weathering the soil has undergone, and the drainage properties of the soil may all be determined by its colour. The key indicator of how soils drain is the colour of the soil.

Soil

Soil is a mixture of mineral and organic particles with air, water, and microbes. It provides a growing medium for plants, as well as animal habitat and water storage. The recycling of nutrients, the purification of water, and the exchange of gases with the atmosphere are all processes that take place in soils. As a result, the soil is essential for life on the planet.

A soil’s mineral content is obtained from parent material, usually bedrock, that has been altered over time by physical, chemical, and biological processes. Bedrock, like soils generated from it, varies a lot from place to place.

Through mechanical fracture, bedrock disintegration, and biological activity, water plays a critical part in the soil formation process. The freeze-thaw process, in which water trapped in fissures in the rock freezes and expands, causing new fissures to form, is particularly noteworthy. The granite gets shattered into smaller and smaller bits as the freeze-thaw cycle continues. 

Physical Properties of Soil

The physical properties of soil include – 

1. Texture

2. Colour

3. Depth

4. Structure

5. Porosity (the space between the particles)

6. Stone content

Soil structure is important for soil and plant health because it allows water and air to flow into and through the soil profile. Soil holds water for plant growth and facilitates the movement of machines and animals. While certain soils are naturally more structured than others, proper management can change some of their physical qualities.

Chemical Properties of Soil

Soil inorganic minerals are predominantly silicon, iron, and aluminium, which do not contribute much to plant nutritional demands. Those in the clay fraction have the ability to hold nutrients in forms that are potentially useful to plants.

Types of Soil

Soil can be described in a variety of ways. Soil is a naturally occurring, loose/uncemented / weakly cemented / relatively unconsolidated mineral particle, organic or inorganic in nature, that lies on top of bedrock, which is generated through rock weathering. Gravel, rock, sand, silt, clay, loam, and hummus are some of the components that make up soil.

1. Sandy Soil – It is the most widely used building material. It is made up of rock fragments and hard minerals like silicon dioxide. They are the biggest soil particles, and each one can be seen with the human eye. The big, relatively stable sand particle size improves soil aeration, improves drainage in compacted soils, and generates tilt, or plant growth-supporting properties.

2. Silt Soil – Silt is made up of rock and other mineral particles that are smaller than sand but larger than clay and is known to have much smaller particles than sandy soil. The smooth and fine texture of the soil is what allows it to hold water better than sand. Silt is easily transported by moving currents and is found primarily near rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. In comparison to the other three types of soil, silt soil is more fruitful. As a result, it is also utilized to boost soil fertility in agricultural techniques.

3. Clay Soil – The smallest particle in the other two types of soil is clay. The particles in this soil are firmly packed together, with little or no airspace between them. This soil has excellent water storage properties and is resistant to moisture and air penetration. When wet, it seems very sticky, but when dry, it feels silky. Clay is the densest and heaviest type of soil, with little drainage and little room for plant roots to grow.

4. Loamy Soil – The four types of soil are loam, sandy loam, sandy loam, and sandy loam. It’s made up of a mix of sand, silt, and clay, each of which has its own set of favourable features. It can retain moisture and nutrients, for example, and is thus better suited to farming. This soil is also known as agricultural soil since it contains a balance of all three types of soil elements, namely sandy, clay, and silt, as well as hummus. In addition, due to its inorganic origins, it has greater calcium and pH levels.

Conclusion

Most land is covered in soil, which is a loose surface substance. It is made up of both biological and inorganic particles. Soil is a source of water and nutrients for agricultural plants, as well as structural support for them. The chemical and physical qualities of soils vary significantly. Leaching, weathering, and microbial activity all work together to create a wide variety of soil types. For agricultural output, each variety has distinct advantages and disadvantages. To understand soil conditions, it’s critical to keep track of the physical features of the soil. It is also crucial to make sure that management practices aren’t adding to soil degradation.