Soil Types: Differences, Soil Related Terms

Soil is the base of all life forms as it supports vegetation growth. There are different soil constituents, such as Gravel, Sand, Silt, and Stones. The physical and chemical properties of soils vary; thus there are many types of soil. What are the different soil types present in nature? Weathering of rocks produces soil. Various natural forces like wind, water, gravity, etc., give rise to such weathering of rocks.

The biologically active, permeable material present on the topmost part of the earth’s crust is known as soil. Humus and inorganic mineral particles such as sediments make up the complex composition that is soil. Humus is made up of decomposing and decaying leaves, plant, and animal remains. We will discuss everything about soil types. Continue reading this article to learn all about different types of soil.

Various Soil Types

There are several types of soil on Earth, such as peaty, saline, silty, black, etc., but here we will discuss three main soil types: sand, clay, and loam.

Sandy Soil

This soil type has a high proportion of sand and gravel. Sandy soil is loose and porous in its structure. Thus, its water holding capacity is low. This soil holds more air in its pores. Sandy soil has low nutrient composition.

Clay Soil

This type of soil has a high proportion of clay and silt. Clay soil has a high water-holding capacity but low percolation speed. This soil type appears wet and feels sticky. Clay soil is comprised of fine particles, but there is not much space between its particles. Clay is relatively fertile due to their property to adsorb nutrients.

Loam Soil

This soil type is made up of a mixture of particles of all sizes. Thus, it is mixed soil. It holds air and water in the right proportion. Loam soil is rich in nutrients which makes it very fertile.

Soil Types: Differences

Now, let us understand the differences between sand, clay, and loam soil in the following table:

Soil Properties	Loam Soil	Sandy Soil	Clay Soil
Primary Constituent	A mixture of all size particles in the right proportions	Large-sized sand and gravel particles	Smaller-sized clay and silt particles
Fertile	Yes	No	Yes
Air in Pores	Good	Well-aerated	Not good
Space Between Particles	Moderate	Large	Less
Ploughable	Easy	Easy	Difficult

Here are some important terms related to soil formation and soil types:

Weathering

The procedure by which rocks or other materials are broken down into smaller pieces and ultimately their constituents.

Soil Minerals

The trace elements found in soil are known as soil minerals or nutrients.

Sediment

Sediment is a deposit of ‘alluvium’ settled in the water (such as lakes or the sea). Sediments can, over time, form rocks such as chalk and limestone.

Pores

A soil pore is the gap or hole in-between particles of soil that can become filled with air or water.

Aerated soil

Aerated soil is the soil type which has a good movement of air through the soil structure. The opposite of aerated soil is wet waterlogged soil.

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