Soil Structure

All soils contain mineral particles, organic matter, water and air. The

combinations of these determine the soil’s properties – its texture, structure,
porosity, chemistry and colour.

Relative size of sand, silt and clay particles

Soil is made up of different-sized particles. Sand particles tend to be the biggest.
Clay particles are very small – less than 0.002 mm.

Soil texture
Soil is made up of different-sized particles. Soil texture refers to the size of the
particles that make up the soil and depends on the proportion of sand, silt and
clay-sized particles and organic matter in the soil. Sandy soils feel gritty when
rubbed between your fingers. Silts feel smooth – a little like flour. Most clays are
sticky and mouldable. If you’ve ever used pottery clay, you’ll know the feeling.

Soils are made up of different combinations of sand, silt and clay particles. Soils
that are a mixture of sand, silt and clay are called loams.

Soil texture can influence whether soils are free draining, whether they hold water
and how easy it is for plant roots to grow.

 Sand particles are quite big. The pore spaces between the particles in
sandy soils are also quite large. This allows water to drain quickly and air
 to enter the soil. Sandy soils tend not to get waterlogged in winter but can
be subject to drought during summer.
 Silt particles are too small for us to see with our eyes. Silt soils have much
smaller pore spaces but a lot more of them.
 Clay particles are smaller than 0.002 mm in diameter. Clay soils are poorly
drained and hold on to the water in their pore spaces for much longer.
However, they can become very hard if they dry out.

Soil structure
Soil structure describes the way the sand, silt and clay particles are clumped
together. Organic matter (decaying plants and animals) and soil organisms like
earthworms and bacteria influence soil structure. Clays, organic matter and
materials excreted by soil organisms bind the soil particles together to
form aggregates. Soil structure is important for plant growth, regulating the
movement of air and water, influencing root development and
affecting nutrient availability. Good quality soils are friable (crumbly) and have
fine aggregates so the soil breaks up easily if you squeeze it. Poor soil structure
has coarse, very firm clods or no structure at all.

Soil porosity
Soil porosity refers to the pores within the soil. Porosity influences the movement
of air and water. Healthy soils have many pores between and within the
aggregates. Poor quality soils have few visible pores, cracks or holes. The way in
which a soil is managed can affect its porosity. For example, look at areas around
your school where students regularly walk. If the grass is worn away and the soil
is exposed, it often looks different because it has been compacted and has had
its structure and porosity altered. These are also areas where puddles form
because the water is not able to drain away.

Soil chemistry
Clays and organic matter in the soil carry negative charges. Water in the soil
dissolves nutrients and other chemicals. Nutrients like potassium
and ammonium have positive charges. They are attracted to the negatively
charged organic and mineral matter, and this prevents them from being lost
through leaching as water moves through the soil. Nitrate has a negative charge
so it is not protected from leaching in most soils.

Soils can be acid, alkaline or neutral. Soil pH influences nutrient absorption and

plant growth. Some plants, like kūmara and potatoes, grow best in a more acidic
soil (pH of 5.0–6.0). Carrots and lettuces prefer soils with a neutral pH of 7.0.
Soils can become more acidic over time as minerals are leached away. Lime is
often added to soil to make it less acidic.
Soil colour
If you thought that all soils are brown, think again. Soil colours range from black
to red to white. Sometimes it can even be blue! Soil colour mostly comes from
organic matter and iron. Topsoil is often dark because of organic matter. An
even, single colour indicates the soil is well drained. In contrast, rusty spots and
grey patches (sometimes even a light blue in colour) indicate poor drainage.

Soils are not all the same

Soils can differ widely from location to location. Soil colour depends on organic
matter and mineral content and is influenced by drainage.