5.1b Soil types

Question 1

What are the 3 types of soil

Answer 1

• Sandy soil (+70% sand)
• Loam soil (equal sand and silt particles, less clay)
• Clay soil (more than 35% clay)

Question 2

Rank the soil types from large to small “pore” size?

Answer 2

• Sandy soil (large)
• Loam soil (medium)
• Clay soil (small)

Question 3

Rank the soil types in relation to drainage (percolation rate)?

Answer 3

• Sandy soil (fast - dry soil)
• Loam soil (medium - ideal water content)
• Clay soil (slow - wet sticky soil)

Question 4

Rank the soil types in relation to water holding capacity?

Answer 4

• Sandy soil (low - drains rapidly)
• Loam soil (medium)
• Clay soil (very high - waterlogged)

Question 5

Rank the soil types in relation to aeration?

Answer 5

• Sandy soil (well aerated)
• Loam soil (medium adequate aeration)
• Clay soil (poor aeration - few small air spaces)

Question 6

Rank the soil types in relation to mineral content?

Answer 6

• Sandy soil (High but also high rate of leaching)
• Loam soil (Medium/ high and little leaching)
• Clay soil (Supply of nutrients low as nutrients bonded to clay particles)

Question 7

What’s the ideal or most productive soil?

Answer 7

Loam soil

Question 8

What is the particle composition of loam soil?

Answer 8

• 40% silt - holds clay and sand together
• 40% sand - good drainage and aeration
• 20% clay - holds nutrients and water
  –> HIGH organic matter (holds more water