Soil types: main types and how they differ, characteristics and how they are formed

The right type of soil is considered an important condition for the full growth and development of crops. The soil performs many important functions. It is a support for the root system of plants, and also serves as a source of water and useful elements. Complex organic compounds are converted in the earth to simple substances that are easily absorbed by plants. To be successful in growing crops, it is important to know the type of soil.

Types of soils and their characteristics in terms of mechanical composition

Growing garden and garden plants directly depends on the quality characteristics of the soil and the correct use of it. This helps to increase yields and protect crops from pathologies and pests.

Sandstones

A distinctive feature is friability and flowability. All the positive properties of this type of soil can be called its minuses. Rapid warming and free circulation of moisture and air lead to rapid depletion of the soil. Because sandy soils are not very fertile. To increase the yield, it is necessary to make compost, clay flour, humus and peat.

Supesi

The composition of such soils contains clay impurities. They help the soil retain mineral ingredients. The main advantages of such lands include the rapid absorption and retention of heat, a sufficient amount of oxygen, moisture and nutrients. Every 3-4 years, the beds should be sown with green manure. This helps to increase their nutritional value.

Loams

Such lands are suitable for growing different varieties of plants, as they are rich in composition. Loams differ from other types of soil in structure. Thanks to this, they provide free circulation of water and air. This contributes to the normal development of the root system. In such conditions, it is possible to achieve a bountiful harvest even without prior tillage.

Alumina

Such soils have a dense structure. Therefore, they hardly pass air and absorb moisture. Also, alumina slightly warms up. Therefore, they are not recommended for capricious plants. But with the right processing, alumina helps to get an excellent harvest.

The main requirement is to increase the looseness of the soil. For this, it is recommended to use peat, ash or sandy substances. At the same time, planting green manure is not recommended. This method is not suitable for dense ground.

Limestone

Such soils are not very good composition and are not suitable for growing plants. In appearance, calcareous soils have a light brown color and contain a minimum of useful components. When growing plants in such soil, it is important to consider that it needs frequent treatments. It is best to plant green manure in such areas - for example, rye or mustard.

Peatlands

In its original form, such soils cannot be used for growing plants. A key feature of peatlands is the rapid absorption and poor retention of moisture. Deficiency of minerals and trace elements is associated with high acidity. To improve the structure of marshy soil, it is worth using manure, sand, humus. The use of such substances helps to accelerate the development of microorganisms.The soil can be used for agricultural purposes the very next year after cultivation.

Types of soils and their characteristics in terms of organic composition

Soils have significant differences depending on the organic composition. This parameter affects the features of soil treatment.

Chernozems

This soil is the richest and most fertile. Its main feature is the high content of calcium and humus. Due to the loose structure, it is possible to achieve free circulation of water and air.

A long period of operation provokes soil depletion. Therefore, it is required to systematically saturate it with useful substances. This improves fertility. Siderates are considered an excellent solution. They need to be planted at intervals of several years.

Sierozems

Such soils are formed in the conditions of loess-like loams and loesses, the basis of which is pebble. Serozems are alkaline soils that have poor absorption capacity and contain a lot of potassium and phosphorus. In its pure form, the soil cannot be used for agricultural purposes.

First, it is recommended to carry out irrigation measures, after which it is permissible to plant cotton. Equally important is the use of fertilizers and planting green manure.

Brown

These soils are predominantly found in spruce, mixed, oak and cedar forests. Such diversity is represented in central Russia. In addition, brown soils are found in the foothills and intermountain regions - in the zones of loamy, clayey, alluvial layers.

Brown soils contain 16% humus. In this case, the main part is sulfonic acids. Such lands are perfect for growing vegetables, cereals, fruit plants.

How to determine the type of soil?

There are many ways in which soils differ from each other. To determine the type of soil, it is permissible to use the following tests:

1. Ball. To use this method, it is recommended to take wet earth and make a ball out of it. Then throw it 50 centimeters high and catch it. If the earth has crumbled, it has a sandy texture. If the ball is still sticky, there are a lot of clay particles in the ground.
2. Pea grain. To do this, you need to take a little soil and rub it in your fingers. If the earth crumbles, it has a sandy texture. If the substance has a denser structure, sticks to the fingers and spreads, it has a clay composition.
3. Stick. In this case, you need to roll the wet soil into a stick and lay it down. If you manage to lift a stick without crushing, then there is a lot of clay in the ground. If this fails, the ground has a sandy or sandy loam structure.
4. Bottle. To apply this method, you need to pour some earth into a bottle and fill it with water. Then shake it thoroughly. As a result, you will be able to get different layers. Their sequence is affected by weight. Sand is considered the heaviest, because it sinks to the bottom. At the same time, clay has a minimum mass, so it rises to the surface.

Which prevail in Russia?

Russia is characterized by a variety of soils. The most common options are:

1. Gley tundra - formed in permafrost zones in the flat places of the Far North. In warm weather, the rocks are freed from permafrost by only a small number of centimeters.Tundra gley soils contain a lot of moisture. With excessive moisture in the earth and a lack of oxygen, gley is formed in it. Beneath it lies permafrost.
2. Podzolic - characteristic of the region of the West Siberian and East European Plains. In these places, the amount of precipitation exceeds their evaporation. This leads to a strong washing of the soil and the formation of a clarified leaching horizon A2.
3. Sod-podzolic - appear under mixed broad-leaved and coniferous forests. They have a well-developed grass cover. In addition, these regions are characterized by higher summer temperatures and more plant residues that fall into the soil.
4. Permafrost-taiga - formed under forests in permafrost and sharply continental climate. Such lands have a small capacity and a characteristic structure. The humus horizon A1 is present in the soil structure, but the leaching horizon A is absent.Due to the presence of iron compounds, the soil acquires a brown color.
5. Gray forest - do not form a continuous zone, but their intermittent strip stretches from Transbaikalia to the western borders of Belarus. Gray forest soils form under deciduous forests, which are characterized by generous grass cover.
6. Chernozems - contain a lot of humus and are formed under herbaceous plants of the steppe and forest-steppe zones. Such lands are characterized by a massive black humus horizon.
7. Chestnut - formed under the herbaceous plants of dry steppe regions. They are characterized by less precipitation than can evaporate from the firmament. The dryness of the climate makes the vegetation cover more sparse. As a result, less humus accumulates in it compared to chernozems.
8. Brown - are formed in conditions of a sharp deficit of atmospheric moisture. These regions are characterized by highly sparse vegetation. The humus horizon has a brown color. At the same time, the humus content does not exceed 2%.

The type of soil is of great importance for the successful cultivation of crops. Depending on the structure of the soil, it is worth choosing certain agrotechnical measures that will help increase the yield parameters.

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