Soil

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Soil Media
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Soil Particles

• Sand- Large Particle
• Silt- Medium Particle
• Clay- Small Particles

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Soil TextureThe fineness or coarseness of a
soil. Described by the proportions of particle
sizes
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Why is Soil Texture Important?

• Water holding Capacity
• How fast will water pass through sand?
• How fast will water pass through clay?
• Ability of plants to grow
• Can roots push through soil?
• Will root system hold the plant up?

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How is Soil Texture Determined?

• Testing in a laboratory
• Work a sample in your hands and feel for
  different sized particles
• Steps
• 1- Get a small sample of soil
• 2-Add just enough water so that you can work the
  soil sample into a ball
• 3- Feel the grit between your fingers
• 4- Try to ribbon the sample

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Soil Textures

• Fine- Ribbon forms easily and remains long and
  flexible.
• Moderately fine- Ribbon forms but breaks into
  pieces ¾ to 1 inch long.
• Medium-No ribbon forms. The sample breaks into
  pieces less than ¾ inch long. The soil feels
  smooth and talc-like.
• Moderately coarse- No ribbon forms. The sample
  feels gritty and lacks smoothness.
• Coarse- No ribbon forms. The sample is composed
  almost entirely of gritty material.

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Soil vs. Soilless Media

• Soil

• Soilless Media

• Found INSIDE, in a greenhouse or potted plant
• Light
• Lots of Air Space Porosity
• Made up of mostly organic materials like bark,
  peat moss, etc.

• Found OUTSIDE in the garden
• Heavy
• Little Air Space Porosity
• Made up mostly of inorganic materials like broken
  down rock

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Components of Soilless Media

• Peat Moss
• Grows in bogs and wet places
• Can absorb water up to 20x its weight
• Vermiculite
• Platy minerals that have been heated until they
  explode like popcorn
• Perlite
• Volcanic glass, similar to obsidian that has been
  heated similar to vermiculite
• Fertilizer

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