► Know your Soil Type ◄

 

Soil is the combination of 3 main weathered rock particles sand, silt, and clay. How much these three particles are combined that defines soil’s type , how it feels to the touch, how it holds water . There are 6 different soil types that growers usually work with. The soil types are Sandy ,silty , clay , peaty , saline , loam soil .



 Sandy type soil :- 


Sandy soil has largest particles as compared to other soil types. The soil is dry and gritty in touch. In soil there is huge spaces between particles that can’t hold water. Water drains quickly, straight through to places where the roots, particularly those of seedlings, cannot reach. Plants don’t have a chance of using the nutrients in sandy soil because of water runoff.

 Silty type soil :-

Silty oil has smaller particles than sandy soil, the soil is smooth in touch . Silty soil retains water longer, but it can’t hold on to as much nutrients as you’d want it to though it’s fairly fertile. Due to its moisture-retentive quality, silty soil is cold and drains poorly. Silty soil can easily compact.  

 Clay type soil :-

Clay soil has the smallest particles among the three so it has good water storage qualities. It’s sticky to the touch when wet, but smooth when dry. Due to the small size of its particles and its tendency to settle together, little air passes through its spaces. Because it’s also slower to drain, it has a tighter hold on plant nutrients. Clay soil is rich for plant food and better growth. When soil gets dry it can be hard and in wet situation it’s heavy.

  Peaty type soil :-


Peaty soil is dark brown or black in color. Due to high water content the soil is soft and easily compressed , this soil is rich in organic matter . Peat soil tends to be heavily saturated with water, once drained, it turns into a good growing medium. The most desirable quality of peat soil, however, is in its ability to hold water in during the dry months and its capacity to protect the roots from damage during very wet months. The most desirable quality of peat soil, however, is in its ability to hold water in during the dry months and its capacity to protect the roots from damage during very wet months.

Saline type soil :-


The soil in extremely dry because of its high salt content. Known as saline soil, it can cause damage to plant growth, impede germination, and cause difficulties in irrigation. High salt contents prevent water uptake by plants, leading to drought stress.

 Loam type soil :-

Loamy soil basically contains a balance of all three soil materials—silt, sand and clay. Loam is dark in color and is soft, dry and crumbly in your hands. It has a tight hold on water and plant food but it drains well, and air moves freely between soil particles down to the roots. The loamy soil is smooth, partly gritty in touch and partly sticky ball that crumbles easily.






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