SOIL STRUCTURE

 
Definition and importance of soil  
structure
Soil structure is defined by the way
individual particles of sand, silt,
and clay are assembled. Single
particles when assembled appear
as larger particles. These are
called aggregates .

Aggregation of soil particles can occur in different patterns, resulting in different soil
structures. The circulation of water in the soil varies greatly according to structure,
Therefore, it is important for you to know about the structure of the soil where you plan
to build a fish-farm. Although you may not be able to assemble all this information
yourself, the specialized technicians from the soil testing laboratory will be able to
provide it after examining your undisturbed soil samples. They will be able to tell you if
your soil has bad structure or good structure (pores/capillary canals, network, etc.).
They will also be able to tell you about the degree of water circulation or permeability.

7.1 Description of soil structure

 Soil structure is most usefully described in terms of grade (degree of
aggregation), class (average size) and type of aggregates (form). In some soils, different
kinds of aggregates may be found together and they are then described separately. The
following paragraphs will briefly explain the various terms which are most commonly
used to describe soil structure. This will help you to judge better the quality of the soil
where you plan to construct fish-ponds. It will also enable you to learn how to define the
soil structure yourself when examining a soil profile. For descriptions of soil structures,
see Table 17A.
Note: the characteristic structure of a soil can be recognized best when it is  dry or only
slightly moist. When you are studying a soil profile to determine the grade of structure,
make sure you examine a fresh profile.

7.2 Grades of soil structure

By definition, the grade of structure is the degree of aggregation, expressing the
differential between cohesion* within aggregates and adhesion* between aggregates. As
these properties vary with the moisture content of the soil, grade of structure should be
determined when the soil is neither unusually moist nor unusually dry. There are four
major grades of structure rated from 0 to 3 as follows:

0 Structureless has no observable aggregation or no definite orderly arrangement of

natural lines of weakness, such as:
 Massive structure (coherent) where the entire soil horizon appears cemented in one great mass;
 Single-grain structure (non-coherent) where the individual soil particles show no tendency to cling
together, such as pure sand;

1 Weak structure is
poorly formed from indistinct aggregates that can barely be observed
in place. When removed from the profile, the soil material breaks down into a mixture of
very few entire aggregates, many broken aggregates and much unaggregated material;
2 Moderate structure iswell formed from distinct aggregates that are moderately durable
and evident but not distinct in undisturbed soil. When removed from the profile, the soil
material breaks down into a mixture of many distinct entire aggregates, some broken
aggregates and little unaggregated material;
3 Strong structure iswell formed from distinct aggregates that are durable and quite
evident in undisturbed soil. When removed from the profile, the soil material consists
very largely of entire aggregates and includes few broken ones and little or no non-
aggregated material.

7.3 Classes and types of soil structure

By definition, class of structure describes the average size of individual aggregates. Usually,
five distinct classes may be recognized in relation to the type of soil structure from
which they come. They are:
 Very fine or very thin;
 Fine or thin;
 Medium;
 Coarse or thick;
 Very coarse or very thick.

By definition, type of structure describes the form or shape of individual aggregates.

Generally, soil technicians recognize seven types of soil structure, but here only four
types are used. They are rated from 1 to 4 as follows:

1 Granular and crumb structures are  
individual particles of sand, silt and clay
grouped together in small, nearly
spherical grains. Water circulates very
easily through such soils. They are
commonly found in the A-horizon of the
soil profile;
     
2 Blocky and subangular  
blocky structures are soil particles that
cling together in nearly square or
angular blocks having more or less
sharp edges. Relatively large blocks
indicate that the soil resists penetration
and movement of water. They are
commonly found in the B-horizon where
clay has accumulated;
     
3 Prismatic and columnar structures are  
soil particles which have formed into
vertical columns or pillars separated by
miniature, but definite, vertical cracks.
Water circulates with greater difficulty
and drainage is poor. They are
commonly found in the B-horizon where
clay has accumulated;
     
4 Platy structure is made up of soil  
particles aggregated in thin plates or
sheets piled horizontally on one
another. Plates often overlap, greatly
impairing water circulation. It is
commonly found in forest soils, in part
of the A- horizon, and in claypan* soils.
What is the classification of soil having particle size < 0.075 mm in diameter as classified by USCS?Silt
and clay has diameter which is < 0.075 mm

- Silt and clay has diameter which is < 0.075 mm

What is the classification of soil having particle sizes from 2 to 0.075 mm in diameter as classified by
AASHTO?

- Sand ranges from 2 to 0.075 mm.

What is the classification of soil having particle sizes from 0.075 mm to 0.002 mm in diameter as
classified by AASHTO?

- Silt ranges from 0.075 mm to 0.002 mm.

What is the classification of soil having particle sizes from 76.2 to 2 mm in diameter as classified by
AASHTO?

- Gravel ranges from 76.2 to 2 mm.

What is the classification of soil having particle sizes < 0.002 mm in diameter as classified by AASHTO?

- Clay < 0.002 mm

What type of soil having fraction passing the 75 mm sieve and retained on the No. 10 (2 mm) U.S. sieve
under AASHTO Classification System?

- Gravel

What type of soil having fraction passing No. 10 (2 mm) U.S. sieve and retained on the No. 200 (0.075
mm) sieve under AASHTO Classification System?

- Sand

What type of soil having fraction passing the No. 200 sieve under AASHTO Classification System?

- Silt and clay

Type of soil where the fine fractions have plasticity index of 11 or more.

- Clayey

Type of soil where the fine fractions have plasticity index of 10 or less.

- Silty

Soils having size larger than 75 mm.

- Boulders and cobbles

Soil particles having particular size limits from 2 mm to 0.05 mm in diameter under USDA classification.

- Sand size
Soil particles having particular size limits from 0.05 mm to 0.002 mm in diameter under USDA
classification.

- Silt size

Soil particles having particular size limits smaller than 0.002 mm in diameter under USDA classification.

- Clay size

Classification of soil under AASHTO Classification where P.I. ≤ LL - 30.

- A-7–5

Classification of soil under AASHTO Classification where P.I. ≥ LL - 30.

- A-7–6

ratio of weight of water to the weight of solids expressed as percentage

- water content

ratio of he volume of void space to the volume of solids, expressed in decimal

- void ratio

volume of soil per unit volume of solid

- specific volume

ratio of the volume of voids to the total volume

- porosity

ratio of the weight of the soil solids to the weight of water of equal volume

- specific gravity

ratio of volume of water to volume of voids

- degree of saturation

weight of soil per unit volume

- unit weight

index that quantifies the degree of packing between the loosest and densest possible state of coarse-
grained soils as determined by experiments

- relative density

determined by vibrating the sand with a weight imposing a vertical stress of 13.8 kPa on top of the sand

- e(min)

current void ratio

 - e

also called free swell factor

- swell factor

ratio of the volume of excavated material to the volume of in situ material (sometimes called borrow pit
material or bank material)

- swell factor

to determine the size of the grains that constitute a soil and the percentage of the total weight
represented by the grains in various size ranges

- particle size analysis of soils

shaking a soil of known weight through a set of sieves of progressively finer mesh size

- sieve analysis

the soil retained on each sieve is weighed and the percentage of soil retained on each sieve is calculated

- sieve analysis

results are plotted on a graph of % of particles finer than a given sieve (not % retained) as the ordinate
versus the logarithm of the particle sizes - known as

- particle size distribution or graduation curve

involves mixing a small amount of soil into a suspension and observing how the suspensions settles in
time

- hydrometer analysis

particles will settle at different velocities depending on their shape, size, and weight and the viscosity of
the water

- hydrometer analysis