Different Types of Soil

By: Poushali Ganguly ( www.buzzle.com )

There are different types of soil and each type exhibits certain properties. Each type of soil has a specific texture, color, water holding capacity, etc. Keep reading to learn more about the various types of soil and their characteristics.

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'Soil' is the thin layer on the surface of the Earth on which the living beings survive. Soil is the layer which is composed with many substances, in this layer various plants have their roots. Soil is made of many substances like weathered rock particles, and decayed plant and animal matter. Did you know that it takes more than a thousand years to form of a thin layer of soil? Yes, soil is very precious. Soil is made of diverse materials like broken down rock particles and organic material. There are different types of soil and various ways to classify it.

There are many soil classification systems. There are two major systems are the vernacular system and scientific system. Vernacular system is developed by land users. For example, in vernacular system soil can be categorized as red soil, black soil, yellow soil, hot soil, etc. In scientific system the soil can be categorized according to the development of soil or the amount of substances present in the soil. As there are various systems to classify soils, it means soil classification is not static. This makes soil classification vast and sometimes confusing. However, mostly classification of soil is based on the size of the particles it contains. Categorizing soil or dirt by the size of particles is most common, and can be easily performed at home. This classification helps to understand the basic properties of the soil and helps to conclude if the type of soil is good enough for gardening or farming.

Soil Types

Therefore depending on the size of the particles in the soil, it can be classified into these following types:

1.     Sandy soil

2.     Silty soil

3.     Clay soil

4.     Loamy soil

5.     Peaty soil

6.     Chalky soil

1.Sandy Soil

To check if soil is sandy, moisten a small sample of soil and try to make a ball using your palms. If the soil is sandy, then no dirt balls will form and the soil will crumble and fall through the fingers.

This soil type has the biggest particles; and the bigger size of the particles in a soil the better is aeration and drainage of the soil. This soil is granular and consists of rock and mineral particles that are very small. Therefore the texture is gritty. Sandy soil is formed by the disintegration and weathering of rocks such as limestone, granite, quartz and shale. Sandy soil is easier to cultivate if it is rich in organic material, but then it allows drainage more than is needed, thus resulting in over-drainage and dehydration of the plants in summer. It warms very fast in the spring season. So if you want to grow your plant in sandy soil, it is imperative that you water it regularly in the summers and give a break in the winters and rainy season. Sandy soil retains a certain amount of moisture and nutrients. In a way sandy soil is good for plants since it lets the water drain easily, so that it prevents root rot problems.

2. Silty Soil

To check if the soil you have is silty, take a small amount of moist soil and rub it between your fingers. If the soil is silty soil, it will feel slick and stick to your fingers.

Silty soil is considered to be one of the most fertile of soils. It can occur in nature as soil or as suspended sediment in water column of a water body on the surface of the earth. It is composed of minerals like quartz and fine organic particles. It is granular like sandy soil but it has more nutrients than sandy soil and offers better drainage. In case silty soil is dry it has a smoother texture and looks like dark sand. This type of soil can hold more moisture and at times becomes compact. It offers better drainage and is much easier to work with when it has moisture.

3. Clay Soil

To identify if the soil is clay soil, take a soil sample and damp it with water. Feel it between your palms. You will find clay soil is sticky and retains a good amount of water.

Clay is a kind of material that occurs naturally and consists of very fine grain material with very less air spaces. Due to this it is difficult to work with this soil, because the drainage in this soil is low. Hence, there is possible for water logging to occur, which can harm the roots of the plant. Clay soil becomes very heavy when wet and if cultivation has to be done, organic fertilizers need to be added to the soil. Clay soil is formed after years of rock disintegration and weathering. It is also formed as sedimentary deposits after the rock is weathered, eroded and transported. Clay soil due to its formation process is rich in mineral content.

Given above three types of soil sand, silty and clay are the main ones. Apart from these there are three more soil sub-types mentioned below that contain some amount of the above soils.

4. Loamy Soil

This soil consists of sand, silt and clay to some extent. It is considered to be the perfect soil for gardening. The texture is gritty and retains water very easily, yet the drainage is good. There are various kinds of loamy soil ranging from fertile to very muddy and thick sod. Yet out of all the different kinds of soil, loamy soil is ideal for cultivation. So, in case you are thinking of starting a vegetable patch or a small garden, apply a layer of loamy soil to the garden before you start plantation.

5. Peaty Soil

This kind of soil is basically formed by the accumulation of dead and decayed organic matter, it naturally contains much more organic matter than most of the soils. It is generally found in marshy areas. The decomposition of the organic matter in this soil is blocked by the acidity of the soil. This kind of soil is formed in wet climate. Though the soil is rich in organic matter, nutrients present are fewer in this soil type than any other type. Peaty soil is prone to water logging, but if the soil is fertilized well and the drainage of the soil is looked after, it can be the ideal for growing plants.

6. Chalky Soil

Unlike peaty soil, chalky soil is very alkaline in nature and consists of a large number of stones. The fertility of this kind of soil depends on the depth of the soil that is on the bed of chalk. This kind of soil is prone to dryness and in summers it is a poor choice for plantation, as the plants would need much more watering and fertilizing than on any other type of soil. Chalky soil, apart from being dry also blocks the nutritional elements for the plants like iron and magnesium.

Besides the above classification of soil, the next popular classification of soil is according to the pH level of soil. In this classification, soil is either acidic or alkaline soil depending on the amount of humus, organic matter and the underlying bedrock. But, no matter what the type of soil is, every soil has its own advantages and disadvantages and there are various plants that have different requirements. Because, all plants do not need the same kind of soil.

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