Soil Structure

2.
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 .
Review Question
• The grouping or arrangement of soil
L
particles is called
a) Soil texture
b) Soil structure
c) Soil Color
d) Bulk density
o
Soil Structure
granul
ar
Cause and Effect

prismat
(description in
ic
laboratory)
Soil Structure
• refers to the grouping or arrangement of
soil particles.
• is determined by how individual soil
granules clump or bind together and
aggregate, and therefore, the
arrangement of soil pores between
them.
• It describes the gross, overall
combination or arrangement of the
primary soil separates groupings called
aggregates or peds.
PEDS – Natural aggregates
CLODS – artificial aggregates or mass of

soil which results from disturbance such
as plowing
Concretion-natural aggregates where

chemical forces are involved in binding the
particles together
Review Question:
M Units of Structure caused by disturbances of
such as plowing:
a) clays
b) loam
c) peds
d) clods
l
Review Question
• Soil Structure is best observed in
E
these properties
a)Top soil
b) Parent Material
c) Subsoil
d) Bedrock
i
The Classification of Soil Structure
• Grade
• Form
• Size of particles
1. The Grade of Structure
• is the degree of aggregation,
expressing the differential between
cohesion* within aggregates and
adhesion* between aggregates.
• It should be determined when the soil is
neither unusually moist nor unusually
dry.
There are four major GRADES of structure
Grade Description
Structureless No observable aggregation or no
orderly arrangement of natural lines of
weakness
Weak Poorly formed indistinct peds
Moderate Well-formed distinct peds, moderately

durable and evident, but not distinct in
undisturbed soil
Strong Durable peds that are quite evident in
undisplaced soil, adhere weakly to one
another, withstand displacement, and
become separated when soil is
disturbed
2. Types of Soil Structure
is a classification of soil structure

based on the form/ shape of the
aggregates or peds and their
arrangement in profile such as
spheroidal, platy, blocky, or
prismatic.
1. Spheroidal
• Granular: Resembles
cookie crumbs and is
usually less than 0.5
cm in diameter.
• Commonly found in
surface horizons
where roots have
been growing
• CRUMB is applied
when the granules
are porous.
Review Question
• Type of soil structure best suited for
L
growing upland crops

a. Massive
b. Crumb
c. Platy
d. Single-grain
o
Review Question
1. Spheroidal/Granular – soil separates
combine to form small, rounded and
loose or porous aggregates. Most
surface soils have this kind of soil
structure.
- This enhances aeration and drainage.
Soils rich in organic matter and calcium
assumes this form of structure
Review Question
•L The arrangement of particles into a nearly
spherical aggregates because of the
presence of high OM and is usually
present in the A horizon.
a) blocky
b) granular
c) prismatic
d) platy
2. Blocklike
Blocky: Irregular blocks that are usually 1.5 -

5.0 cm in diameter. Usually found in Bt horizon.
Blocky –
◼Soil separates combine together to form
cube-like blocks. This kind of structure is
generally found in the subsoil and has
something to do with good soil drainage,
aeration and root penetration
a) angular blocky – with distinct and
sharp angles
b) sub-angular blocky – with somewhat
rounded edges
3. Prismlike
Prismatic: Vertical columns of soil

that might be a number of cm long.
Usually found in lower
horizons/flat tops
Columnar: Vertical columns of

soil that have a salt "cap" at the top.
Found in soils of arid climates.
Prism like –
• soil separates assume a post-like
appearance standing upright
a) columnar – with rounded tops
b) prismatic - with flat tops
4. Platelike
Platy: Thin, flat plates of soil that lie

horizontally. Usually found in
compacted soil
Platy
• – The soil separates assumes the
form of sheets one on top of the other
lying horizontally . Soils of this
structure have poor drainage and root
penetration.
Structureless
Soil separates do not assume any definite
form
a) single grained – typical to most sandy
soils
b) massive – typical to most lowland rice
soils
5. Single Grained
Soil is broken into individual particles that

do not stick together. Always
accompanies a loose consistence.
Commonly found in sandy soils.
• Soil structure of a soil found in sandy
L
soils and having low clay and organic

matter
a) structureless massive
b) structureless single grained
c) granular
d) prismatic
o
6. Massive
• Massive: Soil has no visible

structure, is hard to break apart and
appears in very large clods.
Review Question
• Structureless soil is:
M
a) Single Grained
b) Massive
c) Granular
d) Both a and b
L
Review Question
• The soil structure of a compacted
D
plowed soil
a) Massive
b) platy
c) Crumb
d) loam
s
Review Question
•L Irregular polyhydra of roughly equal
dimensions the surface of which fit into
neighboring peds is
a) Blocky structure
b) Angular Structure
c) Prismatic structure
d) platy structure
o
Review Question
•D Irregular spheres or polyhydra, which do
not fit the faces of neighboring aggregates
is
a) Granular
b) Blocky
c) Columnar
d) Platy
s
Review Question
D Among the following is not a soil structure
a) Loam
b) Platy
c) Sub-angular blocky
d) prismatic
s
Review Question
•E The arrangement of particles into a nearly
spherical aggregates because of the
presence of high OM and is usually
present in the A horizon.
a) Blocky
b) Prismatic
c) Granular
d) Platy
i
Review Question
• Soil structure of a soil found in sandy

L
soils and having low clay and organic

matter
a) Structureless massive
b) Granular
c) Structureless single grained
d) Prismatic
s
Review Question
Review Question
Review Question
E
Type of soil structure best suited
for growing upland crops is
a. Massive
b. Platy
c. Crumb
d. Single-grained
3. The Class of the Particles
- describes the average size of individual aggregates
5 Distinct Classes in relation to the type of soil
structure from which they come.
1. Very fine or very thin
2. Fine or thin
3. Medium
4. Coarse or thick
5.Very coarse or very thick.
Size Angular and Granular and Platy Prismatic and
subangular crumb structure columnar
blocky structure [mm] width structure
structure [mm] diameter [mm] diameter
[mm] diameter
Very fine < 5 <1 < 1 (very < 10

thin
Fine 5 - 10 5 - 10 1-2 10 - 20
(thin)
Medium 10 - 20 2-5 2-5 20 - 50
Coarse 20 - 50 5 - 10 5 - 10 50 - 100
(thick)
Very > 50 > 10 > 10 > 100
Coarse (very (very
thick) thick)
Review Question
D
The angular and sub angular blocky
structure has < 5mm, the size of the peds is
a) Very fine
b) Medium
c) Fine
d) Coarse
e) Very Coarse
Formation of Soil Aggregates
• Genesis of soil structure involves the

causes and methods of formation of the
structural units or aggregates.
Formation of soil structure is
Flocculation plus other consolidation
processes. Clay particles Interaction.
Creating Structure
+ Flocculation
(chemical)
Surface
Area
v
s
- large grain
- aggregate of small particles
Creating Structure
- organic and inorganic ‘glues’
Aggregation
Stress Forces
(what breaks the ‘glue’)
Vertic
al
Lateral
The Consolidation Causes/Methods are:
1. Alternate wetting and Drying

2. Swelling and Shrinking
3. Freezing and Thawing
4. Cultivation
5. Biological factors (roots and fungal hyphae,
resistant organic matter/humus and soil fauna)
6. Chemical factors (cation effects and bonds
through oxides of iron and aluminum, silicates
and CaCO3.
Factors affecting aggregation
◼ 1. Seasonal variations/climate – alternate wetting
and drying due to rainfall causes the soil to expand
and contract allowing the particles to group or orient
themselves into aggregates
◼ 2. vegetation – aside from the effect of OM on
aggregation, the physical effect of plant roots
assists in the process of aggregate formation
◼ 3. microbial activity- microorganisms excrete
substances as by-product of metabolism and these
are very useful as cementing materials. Fungi and
other filamentous organisms produce mucilaginous
substances for aggregate formation
Factors Affecting Aggregation
4. Cementing materials (clay, colloidal

oxides or iron and aluminum and
colloidal organic matter.
Importance of Soil Structure
• Soil structure has a major influence on
water and air movement, biological
activity, root growth and seedling
emergence.
• It would affect the bacterial activities such
as nitrification and mineralization
processes.
Implication of Desirable and
Undesirable Structure
◼1. Desirable structural condition – it is
the one with high proportion of medium sized
particles, a low bulk density and an appreciable
large amount of large pores
a) it implies that it is highly permeable to
water
b)have satisfactory water infiltration and
retaining capacities
c) readily penetrated by plant roots
d) resist compaction of farm implements
• 2. Undesirable structure – with high bulk
density, a few large pores and low content
of water -stable aggregates
a) it implies that permeability of air
and water is slow
b) there is resistance to root
extension
c) anaerobic conditions prevail
Thank you!
KEY=DLEM

Soil Structure

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2.

Cause and Effect

CLODS – artificial aggregates or mass of

Concretion-natural aggregates where

Moderate Well-formed distinct peds, moderately

is a classification of soil structure

growing upland crops

Blocky: Irregular blocks that are usually 1.5 -

Prismatic: Vertical columns of soil

Columnar: Vertical columns of

Platy: Thin, flat plates of soil that lie

Soil is broken into individual particles that

soils and having low clay and organic

• Massive: Soil has no visible

• Soil structure of a soil found in sandy

soils and having low clay and organic

Very fine < 5 <1 < 1 (very < 10

• Genesis of soil structure involves the

1. Alternate wetting and Drying

4. Cementing materials (clay, colloidal

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