Soil texture influences the irrigation required for the garden.
Soil texture refers to the size of the mineral particles in the soil. The largest particles measure .05 mm to 20 mm and are labeled sand. Silt particles measure .002 to .05 mm, while the tiny clay particles are less than .002 mm.
Importance
Soils with an abundance of sand are easy to till but hold little water. They require frequent fertilization and irrigation. Soils high in clay hold more water and nutrients but are difficult to till. Loam soils contain an ideal mixture of sand, silt and clay.
Ribbon Test
Estimate the soil texture by grabbing a handful of soil. Add water, mix and attempt to form the wet soil into a thin ribbon. Sandy soil will not form a ribbon. It crumbles easily. Loam or silty soil is shaped into a short ribbon. Soils with large amounts of clay particles are easy to form into long ribbons.
Jar Test
Fill an empty mayonnaise or canning jar one-third full of soil. Add several tablespoons of a water softener such as Calgon and fill the jar with water. Cover, shake and let sit for several hours. The sand particles will form a layer on the bottom of the jar. Silt particles form the middle layer and the clay layer is on top. Estimate the soil texture by measuring the layers.
Commercial Lab
Commercial labs analyze soil texture and prepare reports. There are 12 textural classes. The soil texture data influences garden watering, tillage and fertilization practices.
Tags: clay particles, Estimate soil, Estimate soil texture, particles measure, Silt particles
No comments:
Post a Comment