Sandy soil: characteristics and classification, where they are and how to improve

Sandy soils are one of the main types of soil. They have certain characteristics and properties. Soils are used in agriculture for growing plants, although they are inferior in fertility to chernozems. However, there are cultivated species that prefer to grow on sandy soils. Consider the characteristics of sandy land, where it is common, advantages and disadvantages, classification. How soil is used and how it can be improved.

What is sandy soil

Sand and clay form the basis of the mechanical composition of the soil, which determines their ratio.The more sand, the more sandy the ground. Sandy soils are almost entirely composed of sandy particles; sandy loams contain up to 80% sand. Sandy soil is loose, soft, usually lighter than loamy. Refers to light varieties of soil.

Where are they?

Soils with a high content of sand are usually located near rivers, because sand is a product of the processing of rocks by water. Water crushes the rock to the smallest particles and rolls them. Sand differs in particle size and is divided into coarse, medium and fine.

Soil characteristics

Sandy ground is usually dry and low in nutrients because water easily passes through and flushes the elements down into the lower layers. Such a soil does not stick together; under mechanical action, it easily crumbles and disintegrates. But in terms of air and moisture permeability, it is in the first place of all possible.

The natural fertility of sandy soils is usually low, sand as a mineral is unsuitable for normal plant nutrition. The content of humus depends on the type of soil, but usually in soil that has a lot of sand, there is not much of it.

Pros and cons

Sandy soils have both advantages and disadvantages. Their benefits include:

• rapid warming up, this valuable property can be used when growing early crops;
• friability - soft loose earth does not prevent the roots from developing and penetrating deeper, which is why more nutrients get to the plants and they develop better;
• air capacity - there is always a lot of air in sandy soil, also consumed by plants;
• moisture retention - even in hot weather, under a dry top layer, sandy soil remains wet for some time, while clay soil dries up, compacts and cracks;
• easy to handle, dig and loosen.

You can also highlight the disadvantages of soils with sand:

• cool quickly, sudden temperature changes are possible during the day, in autumn such soils become cold faster;
• dry quickly, hot climates require heavy watering;
• structureless;
• nutrient deficiency;
• weak development of microflora, and, accordingly, slow accumulation of humus.

As you can see, sandy soils have characteristics that give them an advantage over other types of soils, but also greatly reduce their economic value.

Classification

Sandy soils are divided into classes according to several indicators, such as particle size, moisture content and density.

By particle size

In this case, the soil is divided according to the granulometric composition, which is determined by the content of grains of the same size as a percentage. Sand is gravelly, with particles, the size of which is 0.25-5.0 mm. The large one has particles 0.25-2.0 mm in size, the average grain size is 0.1-1.0 mm, the small (dusty) has grains less than 0.1 mm in diameter, according to its characteristics, such soil is similar to loamy soil.

Mass of characteristic particles as a percentage of the mass of dry soil: gravelly - more than 25, large and medium - more than 50 and fine - more than 75 percent.

According to the degree of humidity

Humidity is not a stable sign, it changes under the influence of weather, soil water level, mechanical composition, plants that grow on the soil. The degree of humidity affects the severity of other morphological features.So, wet soil is darker in color than dry soil. The level of humidity also affects the structure and composition of the soil.

You can determine the humidity by the sensations that it creates when touched: dry, dusty, there is no feeling of cold; dampish seems cool, not dusty; moist to the touch, cold and wet, becomes lighter in color when dried, retains its shape when compressed. Raw soil, when compressed, forms a pasty mass, from which water is released; wet becomes fluid, when squeezing a lump, water is released from it.

By density

Density is the main indicator that determines the strength and deformation properties of sandy soils. This indicator is influenced by the porosity coefficient, specific and conditional resistance during static and dynamic sounding.

Where is it used?

In sandy or sandy soil, cuttings take root well, root crops give an excellent harvest, since soft earth does not prevent the penetration of roots and the growth of the root crop.

On a plot in the sand you can plant decorative flowers and conifers, both shrubs and trees, vegetables and legumes, berry bushes, all types of cultivated plants that have branched and deep roots. These same plants not only feel good on sandy soil, but also strengthen it with roots, make it denser, more stable. Grapes also grow well in sandy soil and are less susceptible to disease.

How to improve?

To improve the strength and other characteristics of sandy soils, clay is added to them, which should contain at least 30%. Adding clay will allow sandy soil to crumble less, improve nutrient retention, making it more fertile.

A mandatory condition for improving the land is the application of mineral and organic fertilizers. It is best to add fertilizers in spring, when applied in autumn, most of them can be washed into the lower layers and become inaccessible to plants.Fresh manure and peat can be applied before winter. When fertilizing plants during the season, dose and apply the mixture carefully, in sandy soil, contact with the roots is easier, and concentrated fertilizer can burn the roots.

An excellent component to improve this type of soil is wood ash, which is a source of mineral elements and neutralizes soil reaction. It is not necessary to dig up the ash, it is enough to spread it evenly over the surface, melt water and rain will bring it to the desired depth, right to the roots of the plants. It is necessary to make organic matter, ash or mineral fertilizers every year.

Sandy soils are the warmest, lightest and most airy, making them easy to work with. But you also need to make efforts to increase their fertility. Constant care and compliance with the rules of agricultural technology will allow you to consistently get a good harvest in such areas.

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