physical characteristics of soil2.docx

- **Physical features of soil:** - **Particle size:** Determines soil texture and water-holding capacity. - **Texture:** Refers to the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay. - **Drainage:** Influences how water moves through soil. - **Temperature:** Affects microbial act...

- **Physical features of soil:** - **Particle size:** Determines soil texture and water-holding capacity. - **Texture:** Refers to the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay. - **Drainage:** Influences how water moves through soil. - **Temperature:** Affects microbial activity and nutrient availability. - **Structure:** Organization of soil particles into aggregates. - **Impact of:** - **Compaction:** Reduces pore space, limits root growth, and decreases water infiltration. - **Organic matter loss:** Reduces soil fertility, decreases water-holding capacity, and disrupts soil structure. - **Erosion:** Removes topsoil, decreases nutrient availability, and increases sedimentation in water bodies. - **Sedimentation:** Deposits eroded soil particles in water bodies, affecting aquatic ecosystems. - **Weathering:** Breaks down minerals in soil, releasing nutrients and forming new minerals. - **Total pore space in compacted vs. uncompacted soil:** - **Compacted soil:** Lower total pore space due to reduced air and water-holding capacity. - **Uncompacted soil:** Higher total pore space, facilitating better drainage and root growth. - **Investigate soil texture by:** - **Sedimentation:** Observing settling rates of sand, silt, and clay particles in water. - **Using a soil sieve:** Separating soil particles based on size (sand, silt, clay). - **Hand testing:** Feeling soil texture and cohesiveness by hand (sandy, loamy, clayey). - **Capillarity and infiltration rate in compacted vs. uncompacted soil:** - **Compacted soil:** Reduced capillarity and infiltration due to restricted pore space. - **Uncompacted soil:** Higher capillarity and infiltration rates, allowing for better water movement. - **Calculate percentage water content in a soil sample:** - Determine the weight of water in the sample after drying and compare it to the initial weight to calculate water content as a percentage of the soil\'s dry weight.