UNDERSTANDING THE SOIL

Soil are formally defined as the mineral or organic material on the surface of the earth that serves as a medium for the growth of plants. Which has been subjected to and shows effects of genetic and environmental factors of climate (including water and temperature effects), and macro- and microorganisms, conditioned by relief, acting on parent material over a period of time. Soils differ from one part of the world to another, even from one part of a backyard to another because of where and how they formed. The five major factors that interact to create different types of soils are; Climate, Organisms, Relief (landscape), Parent material and Time. The particles that make up soil are categorized into three major groups; sand, silt and clay, most soils are a combination of the three. Sand particles are the largest while clay particles the smallest, the ratio of these materials greatly impact the properties of the soil. Soils can also be identified based on their level of acidity, which is measured on a scale from 1 to 14, known as the pH scale. Lower numbers on this scale are linked to higher levels of acidity, while higher numbers mean the soil is more alkaline. Though most plants thrive when acidity measures between 6.2 and 7.2, most types of soil have an average pH of 5.  By adjusting moisture retention, pH and mineral distribution, the existing soil can be transformed to create a more hospitable environment for the type of plants you want to grow.

Soil colour is influenced primarily by soil mineralogy what is in a specific soil. Soils high in iron are deep orange-brown to yellowish-brown. Those soils that are high in organic matter are dark brown or black. Colour can also tell us how a soil “behaves” a soil that drains well is brightly coloured and one that is often wet and soggy will have a mottled pattern of grays, reds, and yellows. The wrong soil can wreak havoc on plants and may prevent them from getting the moisture, nutrients and sunlight they need to thrive. There are many different types of soil to choose from, and it can be hard to know which will work best with certain plants. Some of the different soil types will be listed in the following posts.

Do you know your soil type?