Types of Soil Structure

Types of Soil Structure

Types of Soil Structure
Soil structure is the shape that the soil takes based on its physical and chemical properties. Each individual unit of soil structure is called aped. Take a sample of undisturbed soil in your hand (either from the pit or from the shovel or auger). Look closely at the soil in your hand and examine its structure. Possible choices of soil structure are:

Granular Resembles biscuit crumbs and is usually less than 0.5 cm in diameter. Commonly found in surface horizons where roots have been growing.

Block Irregular blocks that are usually 1.5-5.0 cm in diameter.

Prismatic Vertical columns of soil that might be many centimetres long. Usually found in lower horizons.

Columnar Vertical columns of soil that have a salt cap at the top. Found in soils of arid climates.

Platy Thin, flat plates of soil that lie horizontally. Usually found in compacted soil.

Single grained Soil is borken into individual particles that don not stick together. Always accompanies a loose consistency. Commonly found in sandy soils.

Massive Soil has no visible structure, is hard to break apart and appears in very large clods.

Grades of Soil Structure
This refers to, the durability of peds.

Structureless No peds are observed in the undisturbed soil.

Weak Poorly formed indistinct peds are found in undisturbed soil.

Moderate Fairly well-formed peds.
Strong Well-formed distinct peds.

Home | Site map | Submit Article | Directory | Search