What Is Clayey Soil
Clay is a fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals. Clay particles are the finest of all the soil particle measuring less than 0.002 mm in size. It consists of microscopic particles derived from the chemical decomposition of rocks. Clays develop plasticity when wet, due to a molecular film off water surrounding the clay particles, but become hard, brittle and non-plastic upon drying or firing. These soils are made of over 25 percent of clay. Most of the clay minerals are white or light in colour but natural clay show a variety of colours such as reddish or brownish because of the presence of small amount of iron oxide.
Formation Of Clayey Soil
Clays and clay minerals occur under a fairly limited range of geologic conditions. The environments of formation include soil horizons, continental and marine sediments, geothermal fields, volcanic deposits, and weathering rock formations. Most clay minerals are commonly form when rocks are in contact with air, water or steam and are also form locally from hydrothermal activity. The clay minerals are formed by the acidic weathering of feldspar rich rock such as granite in hot climates tends to produce kaolin.
Types Of Clayey Soil According To Its Percentage
- Silt Soil 0 - 10 % Clay
- Clay Soil 10 - 25 % Clay
- Clay Soil 25 - 40 % Clay
- Clay Soil 40% Clay
Advantages Of Clayey Soil
- It is very fertile.
- It retains water and nutrients.
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