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Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals [1] (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolinite, Al 2 Si 2 O 5 4). Most pure clay minerals are white or light-coloured, but natural clays show a variety of colours from impurities, such as a reddish or brownish colour from small amounts of iron oxide. [2] [3]
For example, if a soil is 70 percent sand and 10 percent clay then the soil is classified as a sandy loam. The same method can be used starting on any side of the soil triangle. If the texture by feel method was used to determine the soil type, the triangle can also provide a rough estimate on the percentages of sand, silt, and clay in the soil.
Soil Classification Group Symbol Group Name COARSE-GRAINED SOILS. More than 50% retained on No.200 Sieve Gravels. More than 50% of coarse fraction on No. 4 Sieve Clean Gravels. Less than 5% fines Cu ≥ 4 and 1 ≤ Cc ≤ 3 GW Well-graded gravel Cu < 4 and/or Cc < 1 or Cc > 3 GP Poorly graded gravel Gravels with Fines. More than 12% fines
The soil texture is determined by the relative proportions of the individual particles of sand, silt, and clay that make up the soil. A soil texture triangle plot is a visual representation of the proportions of sand, silt, and clay in a soil sample.
There are 12 soil orders (the top hierarchical level) in soil taxonomy. [2] [3] The names of the orders end with the suffix -sol. The criteria for the different soil orders include properties that reflect major differences in the genesis of soils. [4] The orders are: Alfisol – soils with aluminium and iron.
Bulk density (g/cm 3) Pore space (%) Tilled surface soil of a cotton field 1.3: 51 Trafficked inter-rows where wheels passed surface 1.67: 37 Traffic pan at 25 cm deep 1.7: 36 Undisturbed soil below traffic pan, clay loam 1.5: 43 Rocky silt loam soil under aspen forest 1.62: 40 Loamy sand surface soil 1.5: 43 Decomposed peat 0.55: 65
Soil texture triangle showing the USDA classification system based on grain size. For soil resources, experience has shown that a natural system approach to classification, i.e. grouping soils by their intrinsic property (soil morphology), behaviour, or genesis, results in classes that can be interpreted for many diverse uses.
Ultisol, commonly known as red clay soil, is one of twelve soil orders in the United States Department of Agriculture soil taxonomy. The word "Ultisol" is derived from "ultimate", because Ultisols were seen as the ultimate product of continuous weathering of minerals in a humid, temperate climate without new soil formation via glaciation .