Soil Structure

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Soil Structure
2
Platy

• Thin, flat plates of soil
• compacted soil

3
Platy

• subsurface soils that have been subject to
  leaching or compaction by animals or machinery

4
Prismatic

• Vertical columns

5
Prismatic

• B horizons or subsoils of grasslands
• freezing and thawing and wetting and drying

6
Columnar

• have a salt "cap" at the top.
• Found in soils of arid climates.

7
Blocky

• Irregular blocks that are usually 1.5 - 5.0 cm

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Blocky

• sub soils
• swelling and shrinking of the clay minerals
• produce cracks

9
Granular

• Resembles cookie crumbs

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Granular

• Mineral aggregates are glued together by organic
  matter.
• Cultivation, earthworms, frost action and rodents
  mix the soil and keep the peds small.

11
Crumb

• Breakdown of granular
• Topsoil layer