The weathering of rocks creates sand and clay, among other minute particles of diverse minerals. The ratio of sand to clay depends on the kind of rock from which the particles originated. The soil has a variety of sizes and chemical compositions of rock fragments. On the basis of particle size, soil-dwelling rock particles may be categorized into four broad categories:

(i) Clay: These are composed of the tiniest particles of rock. There is not a single clay particle visible, and the texture is smooth.

(ii) Silt: These are composed of slightly larger rock particles than clay. It is coarser than clay. On riverbeds, silts accumulate and river silt is deposited on the field by flooding.

(iii) Sand: These are composed of particles sufficiently bigger than silt to be readily visible. Due to their enormous size, they have a rough texture.

(iv) Gravel: These are the biggest rock fragments found in the soil. These are the microscopic stones found in minute quantities in the topsoil.

In various geographical regions, the proportions of sand, clay, and silt in the soil vary. Additionally, they include a little bit of hummus.

Classification of soil:

Soil may be classed as sandy soil, clayey soil, and loamy soil based on its composition. The size of soil particles affects the soil's qualities.

i) Sandy soil: These mostly consist of sand and are relatively huge particles. There are substantial air-filled areas between them. Water may readily drain through these openings. The sandy soil is often light, well-aerated, and somewhat dry. Since it is aerated, can be readily tilled, and cannot hold water, it is not suitable for plant growth. Due to its less weight, it may be easily swept away if left unprotected. 

It lacks humus and is hence, less productive when it comes to growing plants. It may be made productive by adding manure, which enhances its ability to retain water. This dirt is not adhesive, thus it cannot be used to create containers, bricks, toys, or monuments.

(ii) Clayey soil: The clay particles are tiny and firmly packed, leaving little area for air. Clayey soil has a sluggish water drainage rate. Additionally, they contain relatively little humus and it weighs more than sandy dirt. Sandier soil is less useful from a plant’s growth perspective than clayey soil.

By incorporating sand and humus into clayey soil, its fertility may be enhanced. Clayey soil is very viscous and sticky in nature and thus, it can be used to create pots, bricks, toys, and other objects.

(iii) Loamy soil: It consists of sand, clay, and silt with a trace quantity of humus. Hence, it is highly fertile and the optimal topsoil for plant growth. It has a water retention capacity and excess water may be simply discharged via it. This dirt is smooth, somewhat grainy, and sticky.

Soil's peculiar characteristics/properties

The soil has many qualities, including the ability to retain air and water or moisture.

It is capable of absorbing or soaking water and allowing water to travel through it.

Water's Percolation Rate in Soil

Soil is porous, meaning it has minute holes. When water is poured over the soil, part of the water is absorbed and the remainder flows through the soil. The process of water gently percolating through soil is known as percolation. The percolation rate is the quantity of water (in milliliters) that percolates through a unit of time, or minutes. The rate of percolation varies amongst soil types.

Utilizing the following formula, one may get the percolation rate:

Rate of percolation (mL/min) = Volume of water (mL) / Duration of percolation (min).

The percolation rate is greatest in sandy soil due to its high porosity. In contrast, clayey soil is very dense (or tight in structure), with the lowest percolation rate. From sandy soil, precipitation travels or enters the well more quickly and in larger quantity.

Because clayey soil may hold water. This is the topicIdeal soil for rice cultivation since paddy needs stagnant water in the fields. The kutcha (unpaved) road gets dry after rainfall owing to the process of water percolation, however, the pakka road does not.

Moisture in Soil

The moisture contained in the soil is known as soil moisture. Typically, moisture exists as a thin layer surrounding soil particles. This moisture is soaked up by a plant's roots. Therefore, the moisture content of the soil is crucial for plant development.

Water Absorption by Soil

Even while soil contains moisture, it may absorb or soak up a great quantity of water. But soil can only absorb so much water. Absorption % is the ability or capability of the soil to absorb a certain amount of water. The calculation is as follows:

Percentage of water absorbed = 100 x Amount of water absorbed (in mL) / Amount of Soil (g)

Different kinds of soil absorb water to varying degrees, with some types absorbing more water than others. When we speak about the percentage of water soaked up by the soil, we are referring to the amount of water per 100 grams of soil.

Crops and their relationship to soil types

Depending on climate conditions and soil composition, various sorts of crops are cultivated in various places.

Clayey and loamy soils are topicIdeal for cultivating grains such as wheat and gram.

Clayey soil, soils rich in organic matter, and soils with a high water retention capacity are topicIdeal for producing rice and wheat.

Lentils (also called as masoor in Hindi) and other pulses, as well as cotton, may flourish on loamy soil that drains well and can store a lot of water.

Hydroponic plants

There are certain plant species that can thrive without the presence of soil; rather, they must have water in order to thrive and these plants are referred to as hydroponic plants.

Soil Erosion

Erosion is the reduction of the ground surface by water, wind, or ice. The topsoil is very rich, and plants cannot thrive without it. Without vegetation, the earth becomes loose. As the plant's roots bond to the earth, the plant becomes established. Substantial chopping of forest trees and plants is the primary source of soil erosion. The act of felling trees is known as deforestation. Soil erosion is more severe in locations with little or no surface flora, such as deserts and artopicId regions. Destruction of trees and deforestation must thus be stopped. The results of soil erosion include famines, flooding, desertification, and environmental harm or degradation.

View our vtopicIdeos for more information on Soil and Crops.