Soil properties upsc

As we study the main components of soil that is (sand, silt, clay) that come from lithosphere by the Exogenic forces like climatic or Claimozonic process like weather and erosion. 

Soil can be group into part one is physical and other one is chemical properties. 

Physical Properties

• Texture
• Structure
• Porosity and permeability

Chemical Properties

• PH values
• Humus and collouds

Soil texture

• The structure describes the manner in which soil particles are grouped together into layer, pieces or aggregates. 

Properties of soil                       Diameter

                                                       (mm) 

Gravel                                            1  - 2

Sand                                              1 - 0.05

Silt                                               0.05 - 0.005

Clay                                      Less than 0.005 

                         

Soil's Name         Sand           Silt        Clay

Clay                        10%             45%       45%

Clay Loam             33%             42%       45%

Loam                      40%             42%      18%

Silt Loam               05%             82 %    13% 

 Soil Structure

• The structure describes the manner in which soil particles are grouped together into layer, pieces and aggregate.
• Blocky Layer
• Granular or crumb structure
• Columnar or Prismatic structure
• Platy Structure

Classification of soil on the basic of structure

Blocky layer

• In Agricultural field you will get the large size block soil. Before sowing there are wetted by means of irrigation or water than broken into peace and than it is suitable for sowing the seeds high percentage of clay than useful in cementation. 

Granular or Crumb structure

• In granular the soil particles are small in size. There is no need of irrigation and breaking it into peaces and it's causes the large amount of presens of sand in it. It is Sandy soil found in Western UP and Rajasthan. Due to less percentage of caly so no cementation found. 

Column at or Prismatic structure

• In which soil are there and when soil get dry vertical space are been developed and crack come into existence. Sometimes found in Besaltic area such as Maharashtra. If this get water became very soft and liquid and when water is dry up than it became very hard and crack will developed. It is not suitable for crops. 

Platy structure

• It means soil deposition are in plates form like horizontal deposition. It can be seen in ganga basins. Where each year during flooding season in khadar now new layer will be deposited. It is very fertile soil because rich in humus and colloids. This soil is suitable for all the grains, rice wheat and sugarcane.