Different Soil Types
Sandy
Sand is a unique soil type in that it is composed of very large particles. When comparing this type of soil to different soil types it is obvious that sand cannot carry water efficiently because of the spaces between these particles. This is why this type of soil isn’t particularly useful when it comes to gardening. Plants that are unlucky enough to be planted in sandy soil don’t quite receive the same amount of nutrients as the plants that are planted in other soil types such as loam. This is because the water that is poured over sandy soil will just pass through. This runoff of water will take the nutrients and the water with it. This prevents the seedlings or the plants from completely extracting everything it needs from the soil or the water.
Sand could be thought of as a very fine mixture of gravel. Sand itself is composed of very fine limestone, granite and other rock types. Because of this composition, the use of sand extends to the building construction. Sand is a major component in concrete when it is mixed in with the cement. Other uses of sand involve glass and silicon chip manufacturing.
Silt
The next soil type is silt. Silty soil is much smoother than sandy soil because of its smaller particles. When silty soil is rolled between one’s finger it will leave behind dirt. When it is wet it will create a slippery surface. Silt, unlike sand, drains water poorly as it tends to retain moisture.
Using a lot of silt in the garden will require a lot of maintenance as this soil type will tend to compact easily. This will prevent proper aeration which will be harmful to one’s plants.
Silty soil is also considered to be similar to sand because of its composition. It is also composed of crystals and granules but the difference is with their drainage and their nutrients. Because it drains much slower than sand it could retain nutrients more efficiently. This makes it ideal to use in gardens and other planting needs. It allows water to drain slower than sand does but it pales in comparison to clay in this regard.
Clay
Clayjust like sand, is formed from the gradual weathering of rocks. Clay is usually found in places that are downstream or below large formations of rocks because of the weathering.
In nature, clay is distinguished from other types of granular soil by its particle size. Though there are instances and there are locations where clay and silt are mixed in together.
Clay is typically used to build pottery. The clay is mixed with water. This wet mixture of clay and water then is molded by the expert hands of an artisan or the precise movements of a machine. The resulting shape or form is then baked inside a kiln to remove the moisture leaving behind a material that is hard as stone. There aredifferent ways of manipulating clay. This depends on the techniques and the methods that are used in each culture. There are even cultures that use clay in their homes.
Loam
Loam is an all time gardeners’ favorite. This type of soil is a mixture of sand, silt and clay. This means that it contains the best of each of these different soil types. This makes it ideal to be the base of seedlings and plants.
Loam is perfect for gardening and tree planting purposes as it is able to retain moisture enough for the nutrients to be extracted by the roots and it is able to provide proper drainage enough to prevent root rot. This is why those who are about to enter the world of planting and gardening would be right in picking loam as their base soil
The most fertile farm lands all over the world naturally contain a lot of loam for planting purposes. The agricultural industry owes a lot of its success to the use of loam. This is why loam is a favorite among farmers and gardeners alike.
Peat
Peat is a unique type of soil in that one of its main uses is realized after it is burned. It is actually used as fuel in some parts of the world including Ireland and Finland.
Peat is usually found in areas near bogs and other marsh lands where trees are scarce. They are composed of some granular material that may be similar in size to the granules of sand and clay. These granules are typically composed of quartz and feldspar.
The physical characteristics of peat make it unfavorable for planting and gardening purposes. The consistency of peat makes it easy to be compressed. If there is enough pressure, the water that is suspended in peat can be forced out. This is why it is not really an ideal type of soil for planting as nutrients and moisture could easily escape.
When peat is dried it could now fulfil one of its main functions. This is to be made into fuel. In areas where trees are scarce, peat is used in cooking and other forms of heating instead of firewood.
These are the different basic soil types that are found on earth. These different types of soil each have very different uses. This makes it necessary for anyone who wants to enter agriculture or gardening to really know which soil types are best for the different required reasons.
Soil in itself is not confined to uses in agriculture and gardening. These soil types are very useful in other fields as well. Soil is considered as a valuable resource on earth this is why it is important to study them in order to fully utilize their potential in the hopes of advancing one’s own knowledge and techniques.
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