In the different ecosystems of our planet there are numerous types of soils that depend on environmental conditions such as climate, vegetation, precipitation, wind regime and the five soil-forming factors: climate, parent rock, relief, time and organisms that live in it.
In this article we are going to tell you about the different types of soils that exist, their characteristics and importance.
Soil definition and components
The soil is the biologically active surface part of the earth's crust, resulting from the disintegration of rocks or physical and chemical changes and the remnants of biological activities that settle on it.
As mentioned earlier, each region of the world has different soil types. This is because soil-forming factors vary across different areas. For example, the Earth's climate is different, the terrain is different, the creatures that live there are different , and so on. Therefore, soil slowly and gradually changes its structure as we move through different ecosystems.
Soil is made up of various components such as rock, sand, clay, humus (decomposing organic matter), minerals, and other elements in varying proportions. We can classify the composition of the soil in:
- inorganic substances like sand, clay, water and air, yeah
- Organic materialsuch as plant and animal remains.
Humus is all the decomposed organic matter that makes the soil fertile. From dry leaves to insect carcasses, they are part of the soil humus. This is found in the upper layers, and together with some minerals, it turns yellow-black, which gives it a high degree of fertility.
soil properties
Soils vary in their physical, chemical, and biological properties.
Physical properties
Texture determines the proportion of mineral particles of various sizes present in the soil. Structure is the way soil particles bind together to form aggregates. Density affects vegetation distribution. Dense soils can support more vegetation. Temperature also affects vegetation distribution, especially in height. Color depends on composition and changes with soil moisture content.
Chemical properties
- Exchange Capacity: It is the ability of the soil to exchange clay and humus, which provide nutrients to plants by absorbing mineral particles.
- Fertility: is the amount of nutrients available to plants.
- pH: The acidity, neutrality or alkalinity of the soil. Later we will see how to change the pH of the soil.
biological properties
Here we can find the types of organisms that live in it, including bacteria, fungi and other animals. Animals also perform their functions on the ground, depending on their diet, activity, size, etc.
Types of soils
The type of rock from which the soil originated, the topographical characteristics of the area, the climate, and the organisms that inhabit it are the five main factors that determine the type of soil.
Based on these soil-forming factors, we distribute these types of soils throughout the world:
Sandy ground
As its name suggests, sandy soils are formed primarily from sand. This type of soil, due to its high porosity and low aggregation, does not retain moisture, resulting in a low organic content. Therefore, this soil is poor and unsuitable for planting.
limestone floor
These soils contain large amounts of calcium salts. They are usually white, dry, and arid. The type of rock that is abundant in these soils is limestone. It is so resistant that it does not allow for agriculture because plants do not absorb nutrients very well.
Wet floor
These soils are also called black soils because they are rich in decomposing organic matter, which gives the soil a black color. They are dark in color and retain a lot of water, making them ideal for agriculture. This characteristic has also been observed in soils that may influence global warming.
Clays
These are mostly clay, fine-grained, and yellowish in color. This type of soil retains water, forming puddles, and can be suitable for agriculture if mixed with humus, as is the case with rocky soils.
rocky ground
As their name suggests, they are full of rocks and stones of all sizes . Because they lack sufficient porosity or permeability, they do not retain moisture well. Therefore, they are unsuitable for agriculture and contribute to erosion.
mixed floor
They are soils between sand and clay, that is, two types of soils.
How to change soil pH
Sometimes our soils are too acidic or alkaline to support the vegetation and/or crops we want to grow.
When we want to change the pH of an alkaline soil to make it more acidic, we can use the following methods:
- Powdered sulfur: slow effect (6 to 8 months), but more used because it is very cheap. Add 150 to 250g/m2 and mix with the soil and measure the pH from time to time.
- Ferric Sulfate: It has a faster effect than sulfur, but it is necessary to measure the pH because we can reduce it to an unnecessary level. The dose to lower the pH by 1 degree is 4 grams of ferric sulfate per liter of water.
- Golden Peat: Its pH is very acidic (3,5). We have to dump 10.000-30.000 kg/ha.
- On the other hand, if we want to change the pH of an acidic soil to make it more alkaline, we have to use:
- ground limestone: You have to spread it and mix it with the earth.
- calcium water: It is strongly recommended to raise the pH only in small corners.
In any case, we need to measure the pH, because if we cultivate acid-loving plants (Japanese maple, camellia, etc.) and raise the pH above 6, they will immediately show signs of chlorosis due to iron deficiency, for example. As with soil management, it's also important to learn about the types of forests in Spain that can impact soil quality, as well as the hydrometeors that affect it.
soil importance
Soils are vital worldwide and are being degraded due to constant human pressure. They support the world's crops, plantations, and forests and are the foundation of all terrestrial ecosystems.
In addition, it interferes with the water cycle and the cycle of the elements. Much of the transformation of energy and matter in the ecosystem is found in the soil. This is where plants grow and animals move.
Urbanization has deprived these areas of land, and they are increasingly degraded by persistent wildfires and pollution . Because soil regenerates very slowly, it must be considered a non-renewable and increasingly scarce resource. Humans obtain most of their food not only from the soil but also from fiber, wood, and other raw materials, a factor that may be related to climate types that influence agriculture.
Finally, due to the abundance of vegetation, they help soften the climate and facilitate the presence of water currents.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the different types of soils that exist and their characteristics.