Physical properties of soil

1. Texture/feel
2. Structure
3. Consistence/soil strength
4. Bulk density
5. Soil colour
6. Soil temperature
7. Drainage ability
8. Water
9. Air
10. Porosity/Air space
11. Capillary action/Capillarity
12. Organism
13. Permeability
14. Nutrient content

Ways in which soil texture is important in crop production

1. It helps the farmer to know the type of farming method to use
2. It has an effect on water and air relationship
3. It influences the soil temperature
4. It influences the water holding capacities of the soil
5. Knowledge of soil texture is important in determining soil management practices to adopt
6. It helps the farmer to know the type of crop to plant

How soil is formed

Soil is formed when rocks weather/breakdown to form soil particles. Dead remains of organisms are acted upon by micro-organisms and all mix together.

Reasons why sandy soil cannot support effective plant growth

1. Cannot hold enough water/easy for water to filter out
2. Easily eroded
3. Heats up easily/ dries out easily
4. Poor in nutrient content/less fertile
5. Succeptible to leaching

Effects of texture and water holding capacity on maize cultivation

Important components of the soils that helps

Components of soil

1. Air
2. Water
3. Living organisms/living things
4. Organic matter/humus/decayed plants and animals
5. Inorganic matter
6. Mineral particles/salts/soil particles

Importance of soil profile

1. It helps to get insight into soil fertility
2. It determines the suitability for agriculture production
3. It helps to select good soil for the crop
4. It determines depth at which tillage implements must be set or type of tool to use
5. To know soil management practices to adopt
6. It helps to determine type of crop to grow
7. It determines type of structure to be built

Reasons why soil air is important

1. It enhances absorption of mineral salts or nutrients by plant roots
2. It enhances the absorption of water by plant roots
3. It makes oxygen available for seed germination
4. Presence of aeration prevents the formation of toxic/acidic substances in the soil by micro organisms
5. Plant roots use soil air for respiration/metabolism or growth
6. Soil micro organisms use soil air for respiration
7. Air is required for the decomposition of organic matter
8. Aeration is required to prevent development of plant diseases

Texture of clayey soil

It is smooth/slippery/sticky when wet

Nature of loamy Soil

Contains roughly equal quantities of sand, silt and clay and large amount of humus/organic matter or nutrient