Kinds Of Soils And Its Uses

Soil is the uppermost layer of the earth on which plants and trees grow, which is a natural element that consists of layers of different types of minerals. There are different kinds of soils and it uses differ as per the level of the minerals in them. Soil is most commonly seen everywhere, barring on the cement roads that we see around us. Soil is extremely important for all the fauna around us to grow and without it, it cannot survive. There are a lot of types of soils, but primarily there are 5 kinds of soils and its uses are the basis for gardeners and farmers around the world to choose the best kind of soil.

To understand the different kinds of soils and its uses, let us study in deep about it.

Silty Soil

Silty soil has a smooth texture and is made up of very fine particles. When mixed with water, this kind of soil turns soapy and sticky. It can retain water longer than some of the other soils; however, it cannot hold on to the nutrients in the soil. Despite this the soil is reasonably fertile. This soil is comparatively cold and doesn’t drain well.

Sandy Soil

These kinds of soils and its uses vary a lot from Silty soil as this soil is comparatively much rocky and has large particles. The texture is dry and it is unable to retain water and hence it seeps way below the roots and seeds. Even though it is high in nutrition, plants can’t use these nutrients as they get displaced due to the loose soil texture during run-off.

Clay

Clay has minute particles as compared to Silty and Sandy soil and has a very good water retention quality. Though it is sticky when wet, it becomes smooth when it is dried. It is perfect for fauna as it doesn’t lose water and also doesn’t let air pass through. It is rich in a lot of soil nutrients and provides excellent food for the plants. However, during summer, it turns hard and compact, and at this stage if you try to moisten it with water, it is prone to damage.

Saline Soil

Saline soil has a high salt content and it isn’t the perfect kind of soil for most plants. It can stall the plants growth, damage them, obstruct germination and impede irrigation process. The excess salt contents in the soil prevents the water retention and hence unable to provide with adequate water for the plants, leading to drought pressure.

Peaty Soil

This is the most widely used soil for gardening and farming; it is black or brown in color, has high water retention and has rich organic nutrients. In the dry season, Peaty soil can be very dry and can cause fire. However the fact that it can retain water in the dry months and prevents the roots from drying and protects the roots from being damaged during rains is its most desirable quality.

All these soils have their upside and downside, however the criteria to choose the different kinds of soils and its uses depends on the crop or seeds you grow and the weather conditions around you.