Pc

Front 1

So why is soil important? (6)

Back 1

Growth medium for plants

•Control fate of water in hydrological cycle

•Modifier of the atmosphere

•Habitat for a variety of organisms

•Involved in bio-waste disposal

•Engineering/construction

Front 2

Characteristics of Silty Soils

Back 2

Moderate fertility

•Moderate drainage

•Relatively easy to cultivate

•Very high available water capacity

•Prone to capping or slumping in wet conditions

•Unforgiving if worked when wet

•Some of the best soils (loams)

•High value cash crops

Front 3

Characteristics of Sandy Soils

Back 3

•Poor cohesion

Cultivate Well drained

•Low natural fertility

•Rapid drainage

•Low available water capacity

•Low in organic matter

•Poor structure

•Typically root crop soils

Front 4

Characteristics of Clay Soils

Back 4

Cohesive, "strong" soils

•High natural fertility

•Higher levels of organic matter

•High water available water capacity

•High draught requirement

•Tend to be cold soils, slower to warm in spring

•Narrow working windows

•Typically combinable crops

Front 5

What are the DIY in field methods to identify soil texture (2)

Back 5

1.The UK Way

2.The USA Way –ribbon test

Front 6

Benefits of soil structure?

Back 6

•Physical protection

•Favourable temperatures

•Moisture

•Oxygen

Front 7

Name the 3 types of soil structure

Back 7

Spheroidal

Platelike (platey)

Blocklike (blocky)

Front 8

Characteristics of Spheroidal soil and location?

Back 8

Up to 10m diameter

Typically high in OM

Greatly affected by management

At the soil surface

Prominent in grasslands (well rooted, fauna)

Front 9

Characteristics of platelike soil and location?

Back 9

Thin horizontal pedsin subsurface

Often seen in compacted clays

Front 10

Characteristics of blocklike soil and location?

Back 10

Irregular cube or rectangular shapes

Angular peds

Subangularpeds

Found lower down the soil profile

Help promote drainage, aeration and root penetration

Back 11

Spheroidal

Back 12

Platelike

Back 13

Blocklike