Lesson Note on the Types; Composition and Properties of Soil For SS1

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TOPIC: TYPES, COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES OF SOIL

CONTENT:

1. Types of soil
2. Soil composition (chemical and biological composition)
3. Soil pH
4. Soil properties- physical properties of soil (texture, structure).

SUB TOPIC: Soil types or Types of soil

Soil is the loose weathered material covering the earth surface which supports the growth

Of plants and sustains human and animal life.

Soil consists of mineral materials e.g sand, clay, silt and gravel, organic materials which are made of plants and animals, H₂O (water), air and microbes.

Types of Soil

There are three types of soil formed as a result of the breakdown of rocks that is weathering. They are as follows:

Clay Soil: this is a type of soil that has clay constituting the major proportion about 40% and above while the other part contains silt and sand. Types of crops that can grow on clay soil: rice, sugarcane, etc. It possesses the following characteristics.

PROPERTIES OR CHARACTERISTICS OF CLAY SOIL

1. The relative range in diameter is 0.002mm
2. It is fine-grained
3. It is plastic in nature
4. It is sticky when wet
5. It has tiny pore spaces
6. It is poorly drained and aerated
7. It has high water retention capacity
8. It can easily form ribbons or cast when moulded
9. Capillarity is very high
10. When dry, it is hard and cracks thereby leading to deep crevices in the dry season.
11. It is alkaline and there is high proportion of mineral ions in the colloidal clay forms.
12. It supports water – logging and erosion
13. It is heavy, hence it is difficult to cultivate.
14. The colour is usually light brown
15. Percolation is low.
16. The particles are tightly bound together with little pore spaces.
17. It is usually fertile and good for agriculture
18. It has good chemical properties but bad physical properties.
19. It has electrical charges which help to attract large number of mineral ions.

WAYS OR METHODS OF IMPROVING CLAY SOIL:

1. Addition of organic manure
2. Addition of lime to reduce the acidity in the soil
3. Proper and adequate drainage

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF CLAY SOIL

1. It is use for pottery and crafts making
2. Building houses
3. Construction works
4. Rearing fish

SANDY SOIL: These are loose soils which consist of coarse grain particles. It is a type of soil which sand particles are much more than the other soil particles (about 85%) and others 15%. Types of crops that can grow on sandy soil: cowpea, soyabean, groundnut etc.

CHARACTERISTICS OR PROPERTIES OF SANDY SOIL

1. The soil particles are large, coarse, grained and gritty when touched.
2. It is well aerated with loose, large pores or air spaces.
3. It possess low water holding capacity
4. The water rise by capillary is very low.
5. When wet it is not sticky and hence cannot be moulded into shapes
6. It does not support water-logging and erosion
7. Farmers can easily work on them i.e. it can be tilled
8. Leaching is high
9. Low plant nutrient
10. Highly acidic
11. It is usually white in colour
12. High percolation
13. Micro-organism are discharged because of heat
14. It has poor chemical properties by good physical properties.
15. It is neither suitable for growing tree crops nor for most food crops but it is used for pasture crops and vegetable.
16. It is made up of quartz, that is S₁O₂
17. The range in diameter is between 2.00m and 0.02mm

METHODS OF IMPROVING SANDY SOIL

1. By mulching
2. Planting cover crops
3. Application of compost manure
4. Application of farm yard manure
5. Avoidance of bush burning

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF SANDY SOIL

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