PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE SOIL

SOIL TEXTURE

     Is the amount of soil in term of size of of the soil particles.
The relative proportions of the soil particles of different diameters in the soil is known as the soil texture. Soil texture classified as shown in the soil texture pyramid below                               

Soil texture can be determined in the laboratory by using two methods which are;

     

                 1) mechanical analysis 

                 2) particles size distribution 

                                  SOIL STRUCTURE

Soil structure is the arrangement of soil particles within the soil.

 There are two types of soil structure which are;

  

         1) single grained structure

         2) massive structure

1. Single grained structure
        This is the soil structure in which soil particles are not cemented to each other, for example sand soil.

2) massive structure.
   This is the soil in which it's soil particles are cemented together to each one to form  aggregate or peds. Agregate can be in form of plates, blocks, prisms columns, granules, crumbs, etc.

                      IMPORTANCE OF SOIL STRUCTURE.
1) soil structure influence influence several properties of soil such as aeration, water movement, heat transfer, porosity and bulk density .

2) in a soil with good structure , air circulates easily and water move easily within the soil thus preventing water logging.

3) for good growth of plants and therefore good yields, the soil must have a good structure.



             ACTIVITY
1) discribe soil texture and state how soil texture determined

2) What is soil structure, explain any three advantages of soil structure.