Sandy ground

The floors we generally walk on are different. Sometimes they can be made up of millions of granules and sometimes they can be extremely hard man-made surfaces . Actually the word soil is a term that can include a wide variety of definitions, but in this case we will focus on sandy soil, mostly known simply as sand . In this way, soil is the part of the earth’s surface that includes a series of inorganic and organic materials that help plants grow.

Definition

Sandy soils are those that are composed of small rock particles , which makes them have a granular texture . They are soils that have little capacity to retain nutrients and also cannot adequately retain water . It can be said that it is the type of soil composed of sand.

Sandy soil characteristics

Among the main characteristics of sandy soil, the following are mentioned:

• They are characterized by being light , warm and quite dry .
• They have high acid levels so they are low in nutrients.
• They have high proportions of sand .
• It has the ability to drain the water very easily and quickly , which makes them ideal for work.
• During the summer time they tend to dry out and crack .
• By not being able to retain water properly, they are not soils in which it can be harvested or sown .
• It is a very porous type of soil and they heat up very easily.
• It lacks the necessary nutrients to be considered fertile , however, adding certain products can be used to sow some types of plants.
• They are mainly found in dry, temperate and humid areas.

Texture

Its texture is very light and it also has a large amount of rocks that feel like small granules . These small rocks are approximately 0.05 to 2 millimeters in diameter and when they come into contact with the hands, for example, they tend to scrape the skin. They have a very light texture and that is why it is easily eroded by wind and water.

Components (edit)

This type of soil is composed for the most part by sand which can have different origins, especially in the first centimeters of depth. They have a minimal amount of clay and a low index of organic matter . In sandy soils found in dry areas, its components may decrease considerably as they are very poorly developed and the amount of organic matter is practically nil.

In soils that are located in temperate zones, it is possible to find iron , clays, although in very little quantity, and a very thin layer of humus . Those found in tropical regions may have a little more organic matter and also have a mineral layer that is not fully developed. They have less than 1% organic carbon within their composition. Minerals such as amphiboles , olivines and pyroxenes can also be found in addition to micas. In some places it has been possible to verify the presence ofgarnet and tourmaline within its composition.

Where is it located

This type of soil can be found in dry areas and in these places they are formed from aeolian sands, however, in order for them to emerge, they will need the presence of some type of vegetation to avoid being eroded. In temperate zones , this type of soil is common especially when it is formed from alluvial sands that result from glacial fluvial deposits. Finally, it is also common to find them in the different humid areas of the planet.

How to improve a sandy soil

Sandy soil can be perfectly improved by various means, one of them is when at least 40% of organic matter and nutrients are added . This type of organic matter includes products such as compost , hangover or humus . Another very effective idea is to add a percentage of black soil so that the plants can adhere properly to the ground and thus improve the support. One of the best options is to add clay to improve the capacity to retain water and nutrients, this action allows this type of soil to become very fertile, making it even suitable for some types of agriculture .

What is it for

The sandy soil is used in gardening, in the agriculture of some products that know how to adapt to its characteristics, in the field of architecture, streets and highways and civil engineering and it is used to fill gardens and play areas.

What plants grow in sandy soil

Farming in this type of soil is actually very difficult due to its characteristics. However, in some places it is used to plant rice with adequate irrigation channels , padi rice, pepper, cashew and pine are products that can be planted in them following the recommendations for soil hydration . In many places coconut is also planted in them and some tubers, mainly cassava, since it does not need many nutrients to grow. The bulbs such as onions, shallots and garlic can also be planted in them the like cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce and cabbage.

Some of the common trees to find in them are citrus fruits that have the great ability to adapt to any soil, the almond, pomegranate, laurel, olive and fig can be found in the place. Also some shrubs such as thyme and lavender .

How it differs from clay soil

Their main difference is based on the fact that sandy soil retains very little amounts of water , they dry out very easily, they do not have the necessary nutrients for plants to grow because they are very poor in fertilizing elements and they tend to drain liquids very quickly. On the other hand, clay serum is characterized by being easier to compact , has a greater and better distribution of nutrients , provides a good amount of organic matter for crops to grow, and tends to become flooded when there is rain or when it is they water.

Importance

Sandy soil is important because even though it does not have many nutrients to support plants, it can be used in other areas such as civil engineering, as it has a very important role in construction. This is one of the favorite materials for use in reinforced fillers and unreinforced and the construction of structures of ground thanks to its frictional properties.

It is also very important to increase the drainage capacity in clay beds and various types of decorative plants , trees and shrubs prefer this type of soil to be able to develop properly. It is ideal for working in the gardening field when different types of nutrients are added to increase its capacity. It is also one of the main components of buildings with cement as they are essential part of the mix that gives assurance to the foundation.