Any soil has its own characteristic properties - physical, chemical, as well as biological. Each soil has its own structure and ability to bind together physical and chemical elements; differ in soil and its genetic properties. Often, students of environmental faculties have to look for the answer to the exam question: “What are the main soil properties?” In this case, you can list several characteristics of the soil.
Absorbency
The main property of any soil is fertility. But it also depends on its other characteristics. Absorption capacity is one of the main properties of the soil, without which plant nutrition would be impossible. The term "absorption capacity" refers to the ability of the soil to absorb a variety of substances from the solution that passes through it. K.K. Gedroits distinguished several types of this ability:
- Biological It is directly related to the vital activity of plants, as well as those microorganisms that live in the soil. Biological absorption is always selective - because microorganisms that live in soils cannot absorb all chemical elements, but only those that correspond to their physiological needs.
- Chemical. Thanks to this type, chemical elements from the environment accumulate in the soil. This type of absorption capacity plays a large role in the accumulation of calcium, sodium, manganese, aluminum and other substances.
- Physical . The value of this type of absorption capacity is small - due to this property various gases, water, etc. can accumulate in the soil. Physical absorption capacity is the retention of various substances on the soil surface due to absorption forces.
- Exchange. Especially important when fertilizing soils. This type of absorption includes the ability of fine particles of soil to absorb cations from the external environment.
- Mechanical Like any other porous body, the soil traps small particles from the filtered solutions. Due to this type of absorption, silty particles and insoluble fertilizers (for example, phosphorite flour, or lime) are distributed in the soil.
Nutritional value
Absorption capacity is one of the main properties of the soil, which affects how nutrient the soil is. After all, plants only absorb solutions of the necessary substances. In order for substances to be absorbed by the plant, their low concentration is necessary. Of course, in some cases, the solution may be too weak, and then nutrients are not enough. But the plant will die if the salt concentration is too high.
Absorption capacity increases with an increase in clay, humus in the soil . Those soils that are rich in humus can always be fertilized without fear. Their excess will be well absorbed and will not harm plants.
The main physical properties of the soil
This category includes structure, air, thermal, physical and physical-mechanical properties. Physical properties are density and porosity. Soil density largely depends on their mineral composition, the content of certain chemicals. Porosity is the total volume of all pores between particles of solid soil. There is an inverse relationship between the density and porosity of the soil - the higher the density, the lower the porosity.
The main characteristics and properties of soils have long been studied by agronomists, and this knowledge has been successfully applied to increase productivity. One of the essential properties of the soil is its heat. The soil receives it from the sun, from the underlying layers, from the respiration of animals. However, not all soil types heat up equally fast. Light and moist soil heats more slowly than dark soil. They absorb solar heat and sandy soil faster, unlike clay soils.
Humus content
This indicator also belongs to the main soil properties. In the territories of various natural zones, the humus content may be different. Its largest reserves are characteristic of the chernozem type of soil. The content of humus refers to genetic traits, since an increase or decrease in the content of humus in the soil is an extremely long process. It is not the result of temporary phenomena; on the contrary, the high humus content is always the result of a complex soil-forming process.
Content Elements
The presence and quantity of certain chemical elements is also one of the main properties of the soil. Any soil is a four-phase system - it includes solid, liquid, gaseous and living components. Moreover, each of these components has its own chemical composition - one of the most important indicators, since the main property of the soil is fertility. Productivity directly depends on what chemical elements are contained in the soil.