Soil of India

Soil of India

Soil is the thin layer on the surface of the Earth on which the living beings of the earth survive since it is the layer of materials in which plants have their roots. Soil is made up of many things like weathered rock particles and decayed plant and animal matter. It takes a long time for soil formation and more than thousand years for the formation of a thin layer of soil. Since soil is made up of such diverse materials like broken down rock particles and organic material, it can be classified into various types, though based on the size of the particles it contains.

Soil Types

* Sandy soil
* Silty soil
* Clay soil
* Loamy Soil
* Peaty Soil
* Chalky Soil
Sandy Soil- This type has the biggest particles and the size of the particles does determine the degree of aeration and drainage that the soil allows. It is granular and consists of rock and mineral particles that are very small. Therefore the texture is gritty and sandy soil is formed by the disintegration and weathering of rocks such as limestone, granite, quartz and shale. Sandy soil is easier to cultivate if it is rich in organic material but then it allows drainage more than is needed, thus resulting in over-drainage and dehydration of the plants in summer. It warms very fast in the spring season. So if you want to grow your plant in sandy soil it is imperative that you water it regularly in the summers and give a break in the winters and rainy season, sandy soil retains moisture and nutrients. In a way sandy soil is good for plants since it lets the water go off so that it does not remain near the roots and lead them to decay.


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