Soil may be defined as a thin layer of earth's crust which serves as a natural medium for growth of plants. It is the unconsolidated mineral matter that has been subjected to, and influenced by, genetic and environmental factors-- parent material, climate, organisms and topography all acting over a period of time. They serve as a reservoir of nutrients and water for crops, provide mechanical anchorage and favorable tilth. The components of soil are mineral matter, organic matter, water and air, the proportions of which vary and which together form a system for plant growth; hence the need to study the soils in perspective.
There are many soil classification systems. There are two major systems are the vernacular system and scientific system. In vernacular system soil can be categorized as red soil, black soil, yellow soil, hot soil, etc. In scientific system the soil can be categorized according to the development of soil or the amount of substances present in the soil. As there are various systems to classify soils, it means soil classification is not static. Categorizing soil or dirt by the size of particles is most common, and can be easily performed at home. This classification helps to understand the basic properties of the soil and helps to conclude if the type of soil is good enough for gardening or farming.
Therefore depending on the size of the particles in the soil, it can be classified into these following types:
Sandy Soil
This soil type has the biggest particles; and the bigger size of the particles in a soil the better is aeration and drainage of the soil. This soil is granular and consists of rock and mineral particles that are very small. Therefore the texture is gritty. Sandy soil is formed by the disintegration and weathering of rocks such as limestone, granite, quartz and shale. Sandy soil is easier to cultivate if it is rich in organic material, but then it allows drainage more than is needed, thus resulting in over-drainage and dehydration of the plants in summer. It warms very fast in the spring season. Sandy soil retains a certain amount of moisture and nutrients. In a way sandy soil is good for plants since it lets the water drain easily, so that it prevents root rot problems.
Read more: http://seedbuzz.com/knowledge-center/article/soil-it%E2%80%99s-types-benefits-soils-of-india
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