Can you distinguish between the two
types of soil shown here?
Are there similarities in the colour and the
texture of the two soils?
Which soil do you think is more fertile?
Why?
Answers
Answer:
Texture indicates the relative content of particles of various sizes, such as sand, silt and clay in the soil. Texture influences the ease with which soil can be worked, the amount of water and air it holds, and the rate at which water can enter and move through soil.
To find the texture of a soil sample, first separate the fine earth* , all particles less than 2 mm, from larger particles such as gravel and stones. Fine earth is a mixture of sand, silt and clay. You must be sure to use only fine earth to perform the following field tests.
6.1 Quick field tests to determine soil texture
For fish-pond construction, it is better to have a soil with a high proportion of silt and/or clay which will hold water well. To check quickly on the texture of the soil at different depths, here are two very simple tests you can perform.
Throw-the-ball test
Take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it into a ball;
Throw the ball into the air about 50 cm and then catch it ...