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Soil Science Week 8 and 9

This document covers soil texture and structure, explaining how soil texture is determined by the size of mineral particles (sand, silt, clay) and the importance of soil structure in binding particles into aggregates. It discusses the effects of soil texture on cohesion, erosion, permeability, and fertility, and highlights the significance of knowing soil texture for agricultural practices. Additionally, it addresses the benefits of good soil structure and the causes of its degradation.

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Sibusiso Kulati
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7 views

Soil Science Week 8 and 9

This document covers soil texture and structure, explaining how soil texture is determined by the size of mineral particles (sand, silt, clay) and the importance of soil structure in binding particles into aggregates. It discusses the effects of soil texture on cohesion, erosion, permeability, and fertility, and highlights the significance of knowing soil texture for agricultural practices. Additionally, it addresses the benefits of good soil structure and the causes of its degradation.

Uploaded by

Sibusiso Kulati
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Soil Science

Unit 3 - Soil Texture and Structure


 Soil Texture:

The way the soil “feels” is called the soil texture.

Soil texture depends on the amount of each size


of mineral particles in the soil.
Sand, silt, and clay are names that describe the
size of individual mineral particles in the soil.
Sand are the largest particles and they fell “gritty”
Silt are medium sized, and they feel soft, silky
or “floury”
Clay are the smallest sized particles, and they
feel “sticky”
Soil Texture: Relative Size Comparison of
Soil Particles

beachball

frisbee

dime

Silt Clay
(feels floury) (feels sticky)
(< 0.002 mm, USDA)
(0.05 - 0.002 mm, USDA)
Sand (0.02 - 0.002 mm, ISSS)
(< 0.002 mm, ISSS)
(feels gritty)
(2.00 - 0.05 mm, USDA)
(2.00 - 0.02 mm, ISSS)
Soil Texture Triangle

100 0
Triangle Key:
S = sand or sandy
Si = silt or silty

ay
C C = clay
L = loam or loamy

Cl

%
%

Sil
SC SiC

t
CL SiCL
SCL
L SiL
SL
0 S LS Si 100
100 0
% Sand
Ways to accurately determine the texture of
soil

Soil sieves
Gravitation or Sedimentation
coulumbs
Hydrometer
Laser diffraction
Effects of Soil Texture:
 Soils are more cohesive when they have more fine
particles (Clays).
 Soils are more loose when the have more coarse
particles (Sand).
 Different combinations of coarse and fine contents
produce different soil textures.
 A loam is a mixture of sand, silt and clay: sandy clay
loam is best in landscapes.
 Many other inclusions, such as cobbles, boulders.
The influence of soil particles’ size on the
characteristics of soil
* Kohesian (the ability of homogene particles to stay
together).
* The level of erosion (how easy it will take place) .
* Permeability and water capacity of soil type.
* Fertility .
* The ability to change cations (the ability of the soil
to keep the nutrients and to release it for plant
absorption)
* Is tillage possible?
Why a farmer needs to know the soil
texture?
A farmer needs to know what is the:
 Infiltration capacity
 Water retaining capacity
 Soil fertilty
 Probable tillage methods

The above mentioned can lead to determine:


 Irrigation methods
 Fertilizing
 Type of crop
SOIL STRUCTURE
Soil Structure is:

The way soil particles is binding together in bigger units. (Soil aggregates)

It depends on the way how individual soil particles united and the arrangement of
pore openings in between.

Soil structure plays an imported role in:


Aeration,
Movement of water,
Biological activity,
Growth of plant roots,
Come up of seedlings

In natural circumstances aggregates is called peds.


After tillige aggregates are called clods or lumps

The mother material plays a big part in the type of structure that
develop.
Different Soil Structures
(with structure)

1. Granular

2. Block
3. Prisma

4. Coulumb
5. Platy
Soil Structure: without Structure

Single Grained Massive


Benefits of good soil structure

Prevents crusting

Less erosion

Less soil compaction

Soil imbalances are eliminated


Causes of soil structure degradation

Any disturbance that exposes soil to more than the usual desiccation, splashing of raindrops or
wind or groove erosion
Tillage of soil that speed up decomposition of plant material
Burning or taking away of plant debris - no heap up of organic material The burning or removal of
pasture from a harvested land, preventing organic matter from building up in the soil
Overgrazing, which typically results in weaker plants with weak root systems, less growth, and
bare soil
The movement of animals or farm equipment over wet soil
Tillage of soil when it is too wet (this can lead to the formation of clods) or too dry (the soil may
become powdery)
 Any practice, including irrigation, that can cause salt or sodium to build up in the soil

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