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> 3.4. Soil CE
Rocks were broken-up by weathering. The broken-up rocks help
to make soil. A layer of soil covers most of the rocks on the
Different types of rock make different soil. For example,
sandstone and quartzite weather into sandy soil. Shale weathers
into clay soil. Igneous and metamorphic rocks weather into a
sandy, clay soil.
A dark colour shows that the soil contains lots of organic matter.
This type of soil is called loam.
[Link] Soil
Sandy soils have large particles. The texture is rough and
crumbly. Look at the diagram of sandy soil. There are
large spaces between the particles. There is air and
water in the spaces.
This means that sandy soils contain lots of water and
air. The water can drain through the sand easily.
[Link] Soil
Clay soils have very small particles which are packed
together
tightly. The texture is smooth and sticky. Look at the
diagram of clay soil. The spaces between the soil
particles are very small.
Because of this, there is not much air in clay soils. Clay
soil dries
out and cracks in hot, dry weather.
Clay soil absorbs and holds water easily. The water does not
drain through so clay soils can become waterlogged.
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Loam soils consist of a mixture of sand and clay, so they are made
of particles of different sizes. Look at the diagram of loam soil.
The particles are not very tightly or very loosely packed together.
There is enough air in the spaces between the soil particles. The
organic matter in loam soils helps the soil hold water and gives
the soil lots of nutrients. This is why loam soils have the best
composition for growing plants.
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All plants need organic matter to grow well. But plants use up the
nutrients in the organic matter. This is why it is important that
farmers and gardeners regularly add compost or artificial
fertilisers to the soil.
Compost is made from dead organic matter. It is good for the soil
because it provides nutrients and improves the texture of the soil.
You can make your own compost with food scraps like
vegetablepeels,
Add garden waste egg
likeshells,
grassover-ripe
cuttings, fruits
leavesand
andbones.
weeds. Keep
the mixture moist in a warm place. In a few weeks you will have
compost!
Artificial fertilisers provide the same nutrients as organic matter.
But they do not improve the texture of the soil like compost