The physical properties of the soil are very important for agricultural production and the sustainable use of soil. The amount and rate of water, oxygen, and nutrient absorption by plants depend on the ability of the roots to absorb the soil solution as well as the ability of the soil to supply it to the roots.

The properties of matter include any traits that can be measured, such as an object’s density, color, mass, volume, length, malleability, melting point, hardness, odor, temperature, and more.

Examples of chemical properties include flammability, toxicity, acidity, reactivity (many types), and heat of combustion. Iron, for example, combines with oxygen in the presence of water to form rust; chromium does not oxidize (Figure 2).

Soil Types

• Sandy soil. Sandy Soil is light, warm, dry and tend to be acidic and low in nutrients.
• Clay Soil. Clay Soil is a heavy soil type that benefits from high nutrients.
• Silt Soil. Silt Soil is a light and moisture retentive soil type with a high fertility rating.
• Peat Soil.
• Chalk Soil.
• Loam Soil.

Two of the most important properties of soils are their texture and structure . By texture, we mean what soils are composed of and how this affects the way they feel and their cultivation. The main components of soil texture are: sand, silt and clay particles and organic matter.

All soils contain mineral particles, organic matter, water and air. The combinations of these determine the soil’s properties – its texture, structure, porosity, chemistry and colour.

Uses of Soil

• Agriculture: Soil is fertile and has the vital nutrients needed to support plant growth for human and animal needs like food and clothing.
• Medicinal: Soils can be used to make medicine.
• Cosmetic Products:
• Waste Decay:
• Pottery:
• Building:

Biological activities in soil are widely recognized as playing a vital part in nutrient cycling and availability to plants and in developing and maintaining soil structure, and contributing to ‘soil health’.

sandy loam

Soil is our life support system. Soils provide anchorage for roots, hold water and nutrients. Soils are home to myriad micro-organisms that fix nitrogen and decompose organic matter, and armies of microscopic animals as well as earthworms and termites. Soil plays a vital role in the Earth’s ecosystem.

Humans use soil as a holding facility for solid waste, filter for wastewater, and foundation for our cities and towns. Finally, soil is the basis of our nation’s agroecosystems which provide us with feed, fiber, food and fuel.

Healthy soil gives us clean air and water, bountiful crops and forests, productive grazing lands, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes. Soil does all this by performing five essential functions: Regulating water – Soil helps control where rain, snowmelt, and irrigation water goes.

At its most basic, top soil is the top layer of soil, in which all plants grow. Topsoil is so important because it contains all the nutrients that plants need to survive.

5 to 10 inches

10 inches

clay soil

Sandy soils absorb water quickly without puddling. Compared with plants growing in clay soils, those in sandy soils need water more often, but since water penetrates sandy soils faster, you don’t need to apply as much.

Sand absorbs very little water because its particles are relatively large. The other components of soils such as clay, silt and organic matter are much smaller and absorb much more water. Increasing the amount of sand in the soil reduces the amount of water that can be absorbed and retained.

Sand