physical properties of soil Flashcards
what is mineral matter
perent rocks broken down in to mineral particles. gravel, course sand, fine sand, silt and clay
physical properties of soil
texture, structure, porosity (air and water) colour and tempture
soil texture
permanent propty of soil cannot be changed. proption of sand silt and clay
loam soil
equal amount of sand silt and clay
propaties of a sandy soil
free draining, well aerated, low fartilty, easily tilled, warm up quickly and prone to drought
properties of a loam soil
good drainage, good aeration, good fartilty, easily tilled, warms up early and will retrain water and not prone to drought or geting waterloged
propeties of a clay soil
poor drainage, poor aeration, fertile, retain nutrients, not suitble to tillage due to plasticity, do not warm up lack of aeration. retains water prone to water logging
good soil structure is neccery for
drainage, retention of water, air movement in the soil
what is a aggregate
a substance formed by combining several separate elements
how is a aggregate formed
when sand, silt and clay particles cluster together
what is cementation
the binding of soil particles. when sand silt and clay form a aggregate
what is separation
soil aggregates are broken up within the soil
factors affecting structural development
wetting and drying, soil organic matter, plant root activity, animal activity and tillage
what is plant root activity
small roots = compact soil and binds it together
big roots = can break up soils forming cracks in the structure
what is animal activty
small burring animals = cementation forming aggregates Earthworms
