APES Soil Physical Properties

texture

% sand, silt, and clay

sand

biggest, drains quickly, good for aeration and root growth

silt

intermediate, allows for moderate water movement

clay

smallest, retains water, good for holding nutrients

friability

how easily soil crumbles→important for root growth

slope

steeper = more erosion

depth

how deep before you hit rock

color

darker soils have more nutrient rich organic matter

loam

-roughly equal parts of sand, silt, clay

-porous texture

-water moves slowly enough for plant use/nutrient retention, and quickly enough to avoid water log/root rot

-ideal for agriculture

texture determines

-water holding capacity

-nutrient retention/leeching

-drainage rate

-types of plants that will grow