Analyzing The Three Basic Types Of Soil

Soil is primarily defined as a natural body consisting of layers that are composed of minerals which differ from their parent materials in their texture, structure, consistency, color, chemical, biological, and other characteristics. The soil you use for gardening generally comes in three types – sand, clay, and silt. Let us take a look at each of these.

- Sand: It is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. This type of soil contains the largest particles among all the types of soil. Since the particles are large, they are rough to touch and cannot hold on to water due to huge spaces in between. Thus, water drains too very quickly in this case. Plants usually don’t stand a chance of acquiring the nutrients in the sandy soil since they can be swiftly carried off by the run-off. But sand, or rather the sandy soil can be easy to work with and warms quickly in the spring.

- Silt: It is a granular material of a size somewhere between sand and clay whose mineral origin is quartz and feldspar. Silt is usually created by a number of processes capable of splitting the normal sand-sized quartz crystals of primary rocks by exploiting deficiencies in their lattice. The particles of silt soil are evidently much smaller than those of sand; hence they are comparatively smooth to the touch. Unlike sand, when you hold silt in your hands, some dirt gets stuck. It retains water relatively longer, thus making it more fertile than sand. However, it cannot hold as many nutrients as you would want it to. Additionally, if your garden contains silt, take care to not step on it, otherwise it may grow infertile. Also, it can be poorly aerated.

- Clay: It is a soil with a heavy concentration of clay particles. It carries the smallest particles among the three, so it stores water fabulously. It may be sticky when wet, but exceptionally smooth when dry. The amount of air passing through the soil is much lesser than all the types combined. Due to this soil’s unique qualities, it is challenging to work with. It may be quite frustrating for most gardeners given the soil’s properties. Comparatively, clay soil can be quite easily identified, even without testing it. They have also got the name ‘heavy soil’, due to their higher density. Compaction is again relatively more probable with it, and it is highly alkaline. Huge trees and shrubs may be able to handle it, but small plants and shrubs cannot. Additionally, it even takes a long time to warm the soil in spring.

There are also two more variations of soil, variation of those already mentioned – peaty soil, and saline soil. Peaty soil is usually dark brown or dark in color and can be easily compressed due to its high water content. It is rich in organic matter. Saline soil is generally brackish due to its high salt content. The high salinity in the soil is normally due to the buildup of soluble salts which prevent water uptake by plants.

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