Continue with Microsoft TeamsThree Types of Soil
Vocabulary
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Clay
Clay is tiny pieces of rock that turn into soft gluey mud when mixed with water.
Loam
Loam is a rich soil made up of silt, clay, and sand that is good for plant growth.
Nutrients
Nutrients are the things that plants or animals need to grow and to stay healthy.
Particle
A particle is an extremely tiny piece of matter.
Soil
Soil is a mixture of minerals and organisms that cover most of the earth’s surface and is where plants grow.
Most soil contains three types of particles: sand, silt, and clay. These different types of particles create different types of soil.
Sand
Sandy soil is made mostly of sand particles. Water soaks quickly down through this type of soil. (When water runs quickly through soil, we say that the soil drains quickly.) If you squeeze sandy soil in your hand, it does not stick together well.
Loam
Loam has equal amounts of sand, silt, and clay particles. Water drains from this type of soil more slowly than from sandy soil. If you squeeze loamy soil in your hand, it sticks together fairly well.
Clay
Clay soil is made mostly of clay particles. Water drains very slowly from this type of soil. If you squeeze clay soil, it sticks together very well.
Water, Air, and Nutrients
Plants need water, air, and nutrients. Nutrients in soil mix with water. Plants get nutrients when their roots take in water.
If water drains from soil too quickly, plant roots do not have much time to take in water and nutrients. Plants will not grow well in soil that drains too quickly.
If water drains from soil too slowly, the spaces between soil particles stay filled with water for a long time. Plant roots will have a lot of time to take in water and nutrients. Some plants grow very well in swamps, lakes, and rivers. Other plants do not grow well in soil that is too wet.
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