Understanding Soil Texture and Structure

← Back to document page

Understanding soil Texture andStructureHAVE YOU EVER MADEsand castlesand mud pies? If so, think backat how the sand and mud were alike ordifferent. What did they feel like? Whathappened when they dried? Both hadunique properties that will be discussedin this : 1. Describe soil Texture and soil characteristics related to Explain soil Structure and various types of soil Terms: soil TextureThe inorganic material in soil is calledmineral matter. Mineral matter began as rock thatwas weathered into small particles. Most soils have different sizes of mineral particles. Theseparticles are labeled sand, silt, or clay, based on their the largest of the mineral particles. Sand particles create large pore spaces thatimprove aeration. Water flows through the large pore spaces quickly.

Silt is the mid-size soil particle. Silt has good water-holding ability and good fertility char-acteristics. It feels like flour when dry and smooth like velvet when moist.

  Understanding, Soil, Structure, Texture, Understanding soil texture and structure