Soil is an integral part of life on earth, and without it, there simply wouldn’t be life as we know it today. While most people just call it “dirt”, there are several different types of soil, each with a different composition. Let’s look at the different types of soil and what they’re made up of.
Sandy Soil
Sandy soil, as the name implies, is largely made up of irregular-shaped or rounded grains of sand. While the grains are tiny in size, their shape allows for a lot of space between the particles, which lets water flow or “drain” through the soil with ease. These spaces between the sand particles also allow air to move more freely through the soil. Between the quick draining of water and the ample space for air to move, sandy soils tend to dry out quickly.
Some growers prefer sandy soils for its quick draining properties, but unfortunately, along with quick draining water comes quick draining nutrients. Sandy soils don’t hold nutrients very well, making it less than ideal for most growers. Soils that are overly sandy or pure sand make a poor choice as a growing medium for most plants.
Clay Soil
Unlike sandy soils, clay soil is denser, and many of the particles that make up clay soil are shaped like discs that could be stacked up. Clay soils tend to hold water longer than sandy soils as the spaces between particles are much smaller than sandy soil, thus water and air do not move as freely. Clay soil is a heavy type of soil that is high in nutrients and will usually remain wet in cold/winter conditions but dry out in hotter/dryer summer conditions. For soil to be considered clay soil, it must have over 25 per cent clay.
Silt Soil
Silt soil is comprised mainly of medium-sized particles that allow for good water drainage and retention. Silt soils are more prone to washing away with rain and can be easily compacted. It is generally a light type soil.
Peat Soil
Peat Soil is not usually found naturally in most farm fields or home gardens, but rather added into existing soils to improve water retention. Peat soils are high in organic matter which helps to retain moisture and makes for an ideal soil base for plant growing.
Chalk Soil
Chalk soils typically have a high pH level as they contain a high level of calcium carbonate, making the soil more alkaline. Soils that are highly alkaline are not generally considered favourable for growing crops as the pH level reduces soil fertility and nutrient uptake by plant roots.
Loam Soil
Loam soils are largely made up of sand, silt, and some clay particles, with a composition of around 40-40-20% respectively. There are several types of loam soils, including silty clay loam and sandy clay loam and all have different characteristics. In general, loam soils are better at retaining water and essential plant nutrient elements than other types of soil. Loam soils make an ideal growing medium for most plants.