Soil Mechanics and Foundations - 5 Major Soil Types Available on Our Planet Earth

Soil is a loose layer of earth in a different form of mud and other types. It is a part of the earth’s surface covering the planet with organic materials, rocks, humus, and others. On average, it takes 500 years or

  

more to form one centimeter of soil.  It is usually formed when rocks break up into their constituent parts; it also includes the impact of wind and salts' reactions. If you are a mechanical engineering scholar, you may need a mechanical engineering manual. However, let’s dive into the variants of soils available on our planet.

Soil variants you must know

1.       Sandy Soil

The first type of soil in our list comes sandy soil, consisting of small particles of weathered rocks. Sandy soil is one of the worst varieties for growing plants because it has very low nutrients and low water capacity, making it difficult for plant roots to soak in water. This type of soil is very good for the drainage system. Sandy soils are usually formed by weathering of rocks such as granite, limestone, and quartz.

2.       Silt clay

Silt, like sand has much smaller particles than soil and is composed of rock and other mineral particles, smaller than sand and larger than clay. It is the soft and fine quality of the soil, which holds water better than sand. Silt is easily transported by trembling streams and is mainly found near rivers, lakes, and other water sources. Silt soils are more fertile than the other three types of soils. Therefore, it is also used in agricultural practices to improve soil fertility. If you want to know the mechanisms behind it, get a Soil Mechanics and Foundations are online for you.

3.       Clay soil

This type of soil is the smallest particle in the above two types of soil. They are low or tightly packed with air space and has very good water storage properties. Clay soil makes it difficult for moisture and air to penetrate. It is very sticky to the touch when wet but soft when dry. This soil type is a dense and heavy soil that does not grow well or gives plant roots space to grow.

4.       Loamy soil

Loam is another type of soil is a combination of sand, silt, and clay, each of which has beneficial properties. For example, this soil can retain moisture and nutrients. Therefore, it is more suitable for agriculture. Loamy soil is also known as agricultural soil because it balances three soil materials, such as sand, clay, and silt, and contains humus. Apart from these, it has high calcium and pH (Power of hydrogen) levels due to its inorganic origin.

5.       Alluvial clay

Alluvial soils are the largest and most found soil variant in India. Approximately 1.5 million square kilometers or 45.6 percent of the country's total land area, these soils constitute the largest share of our agricultural wealth and support the Indian population. The major difference between alluvial soil and loamy soil is the formation. Alluvial is the deposit of formed flooding, whereas loamy soils formed due to the waterlogging in winters.