LO 3.0 - Describe the physical characteristics of soil and non-soil growing media

Question 1

Question

What is Soil Texture?

Soil Science and Growing Media

Answer 1

Soil Texture refers to the size of it’s particles. It is the average size of the soil particle and depends on the portions of sand, silt and clay present.

Soil Science and Growing Media

Question 2

Question

What is Organic Matter?

Soil Science and Growing Media

Answer 2

Organic Matter is composed of compounds that have come from the feces and remains of organisms such as plants and animals.

Soil Science and Growing Media

Question 3

Question

What is Soil Structure?

Soil Science and Growing Media

Answer 3

Soil structure refers to the grouping of soil particles (sand, silt, clay, organic matter, humis) into porous compounds. These are called aggregates or peds.

Soil Science and Growing Media

Question 4

Question

What is Bulk Density?

Soil Science and Growing Media

Answer 4

Bulk density
This is an indicator of soil compaction. It’s calculated as the dry weight of soil divided by its volume. This volume includes the volume of soil particles and the volume of pores among soil particles. Bulk density is expressed in g/cm3.

Soil Science and Growing Media

Question 5

Question

What is Porosity?

Soil Science and Growing Media

Answer 5

Soil porosity, is the small gaps between particles of soil. In heathy soil, these pores are large and plentiful enough to retain the water, oxygen and nutrients that plants need to absorb through their roots.

Soil Science and Growing Media

Question 6

Question

What is Compaction?

Soil Science and Growing Media

Answer 6

Soil compaction is what occurs when the gaps and space that are found in soil have been removed. This happens when pressure or weight collapses the air pockets that normally exist between the components of soil.

Soil Science and Growing Media

Question 7

Question

What is Soil Water?

Soil Science and Growing Media

Answer 7

Soil water (rhizic water) is the term for water found in soil. There are three main types of soil water - gravitational, capillary and hygroscopic - and these terms are defined based on the function of the water in the soil.

Soil Science and Growing Media