Soil Texture

Soil Texture  Definition of Soil Texture: Soil texture refers to the relative proportion of particles or it is the relative percentage by weight of the three soil separates viz., sand, silt and clay or simply refers to the size of soil particles. The proportion of each size group in a given soil (the texture) can not be easily altered and it is considered as a basic property of a soil. The soil separates are de

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Soil Textural Classes

Soil Textural Classes  To convey an idea of the textural make up of soils and to give an indication of their physical properties, soil textural class names are used. These are grouped into three main fractions viz., Sand, Silt and Clay. According to the proportion of these three fractions a soil is given a name to indicate its textural composition. Such a name gives an idea not only of the textural composition of a soil

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Soil Structure

Soil StructureSoil conditions and characteristics such as water movement, heat transfer, aeration, and porosity are much influenced by structure. In fact, the important physical changes imposed by the farmer in ploughing, cultivating, draining, liming, and manuring his land are structural rather than textural. Definition of Soil Structure: The arrangement and organization of primary and secondary particles in a

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Factors Affecting Soil Structure

Factors Affecting Soil Structure  The development of structure in arable soil depends on the following factors: 1. Climate: Climate has considerable influence on the degree of aggregation as well as on the type of structure. In arid regions there is very little aggregation of primary particles. In semi arid regions, the degree of aggregation is greater. 2. Organic matter: Organic matter improves the structure of a sandy soil as we

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Weathering of Rocks and Minerals

Weathering of Rocks and Minerals  Rocks and minerals are formed under a very high temperature and pressure, exposed to atmospheric conditions of low pressure and low temperature and they become unstable and weather. Soils are formed from rocks through the intermediate stage of formation of Regolith which is the resultant of weathering. The sequence of processes in the formation of soils is: Weathering of rocks and minerals -> f

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Physical weathering of Rocks

Physical weathering of Rocks  The rocks are disintegrated and are broken down to comparatively smaller pieces, with out producing any new substances 1. Physical condition of rocks: The permeability of rocks is the most important single factor.
    Coarse textured (porous) sand stone weather more readily than a fine textured (almost solid) basalt. Unconsolidated volcanic ash weather quickly as compared to unconsolidated coarse

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Chemical Weathering of Rocks

Chemical Weathering of Rocks  Decomposition of rocks and minerals by various chemical processes is called chemical weathering. It is the most important process for soil formation. Chemical weathering takes place mainly at the surface of rocks and minerals with disappearance of certain minerals and the formation of secondary products (new materials). This is called chemical transformation. Feldspar + water -> clay mineral +

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Biological Weathering of Rocks

Biological Weathering of Rocks  Unlike physical and chemical weathering, the biological or living agents are responsible for both decomposition and disintegration of rocks and minerals. The biological life is mainly controlled largely by the prevailing environment. 1. Man and Animals:
    The action of man in disintegration of rocks is well known as he cuts rocks to build dams, channels and construct roads and buildings. All these

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Weathering of Minerals

Weathering of Minerals  There are many factors which influence the weathering of minerals.
    1. Climatic conditions 2. Physical characteristics 3. Chemical and structural characteristics
1. Climatic Conditions: The climatic condition, more than any other factor tends to control the kind and rate of weathering. Under conditions of low rainfall, there is a dominance of physical weathering which reduces the size and i

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