clay in soil??

Question

I know this is a stupid question, but how do I know if theres clay in my soil, or hoe do I know if it is clay?

Answer 1

Mineral soils are generally a mixture of three particle sizes: sand, silt and clay. Sand is the largest particle size and clay is the smallest. Most mineral soils contain some clay. Sure there are sand deposits with little to no silt or clay, but rarely are our homes built onf these type of soils. Clays are good in that they help to hold moisture and nutrients in a soil. Too much clay creates a very fine textured and heavy soil that does not drain well and has poor oxygen penetration. Its only when clay dominates a soil texture that it becomes a problem.

To determine if your soil is fine textured or dominated by clay, get a 1/2" diameter ball of moistened soil (not wet; consistancy of putty) in the palm of your hand. Try to form a long, pliable ribbon from the ball of soil between your thumb and forefinger. Gradually press the thumb forward forming the soil into a ribbon. If the soil breaks into pieces 3/4 - 1" long you have a moderately fine textured soil with moderate levels of clay. If you can produce long, pliable ribbons greater than 1", you have a clay (fine textured soil dominated by clay particles). Pieces smaller than 3/4" indicate that you have less than 20-25% clay particles in your soil. If you can't form a ribbon at all, you have a medium to coarse soil texture dominated by silt or sand. Do this test in several areas of your yard. Take the samples from various depths in your yard. Soils naturally create distinct layers or horizons. The top layer or top soil may have some clay. The next layer or B horizon is usually the layer where most clay particles settle in a soil horizon. Do not include pieces of turf, foliage, roots, mulch, etc. in your sample

Its important that you know & control the size of your sample befor you use this simple test. The ribbon lengths used to determine clay content are based on the sample size. Any test which provides ribbon lengths without specifing the sample size is meaningless. Once you have performed this test, you will understand this point.

Answer 2

This is a very astute question. One to few gardeners ask.
Check your soil's texture by picking up a handful and squeeze gently: If it feels sticky and stays in a tight mass, your soil is likely too high in clay. Clay has a slick slippery feel. Silt is smooth and floury while sand is harsh and gritty. This relates to the particle size as others mentioned.
If it formed a sticky ball try to squeeze it upward, through your fist, to form a ribbon. Measure the length of the ribbon. Next wet the soil in your palm til muddy. Rub the soil against your palm with your other fingertips. Is it smooth, gritty or both?
1” gritty ribbon is sandy loam
1” smooth ribbon is silty loam
1” both is loam
1-2” gritty ribbon is sandy clay loam
1-2” smooth ribbon is silty clay loam
1-2” both is clay loam
GT 2” gritty ribbon is sandy clay
GT 2” smooth ribbon is silty clay
GT 2” both is clay

Dig a largish hole to view the soil. Black color indicates high organic matter; gray indicates medium organic matter. Red, tan or blue color indicates little organic matter and high clay. Blue color indicates that there is no oxygen in the clay.
For a more specific test
Optimum soil or loam percentages are: Sand - 30-50%, Silt - 30-50%, Clay - 20- 30%, Organic material - 5-10%.
You need 1 quart jar, 2 cups water, 1 T water softener OR three drops detergent (Add just enough to separate the minerals not to foam up.)
Take a soil sample, excluding roots, rocks or other large objects, from the top 12 inches in your garden.
Fill a quart glass jar about half full with soil. Fill to the top with water. Add one drop dish soap. Shake the jar, but do not swirl. Let stand. Sand will settle in about ten seconds. Silt will settle in two minutes. Clay will take hours to settle. Organic matter will float for a while. Let it sit overnight before measuring.
The thickness of the layers indicates the proportions of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Measure the total depth then divide each segment by the total depth. Multiply by 100%. This will give you the actual clay silt and sand percentages in your soil.
Repeat in another area if you think the soil may be different.

Sending a soil sample for testing will tell you the N-P-K and pH of your soil. The results will include a fertilization ratio specific to your garden to keep you from wasting money on unneeded fertilizers.

Answer 3

Soil with very small, flat particles that tend to pack together tightly, hardens when dry, and drains poorly without organic amendments.

http://www.fernlea.com/misc/glossary.htm

To test, dig a hole about a wide and about six inches deep. Fill it with water. If it takes a long time to drain, it is clay soil.

You can also have your soil tested. Your local County Extension Service/Agent will be able to tell you the type of soil in your area. It is a free service paid for by your taxes, so don't be shy in calling.

We have clay soil and it is wonderful once you learn to use it correctly. Take your lawn for an example.....water each section of your yard for about 30 minutes, let it soak in. In a couple of days do it all over again. You will have a beautiful lawn in no time at all.

As for your flower gardens.....enclose them with a liner such as the 'pound-in' liners that you can buy from places such as WalMart. This will keep the water in one place so it will soak in, instead of running off.

Most of the time, we don't even need to fertilize our clay soil.

Clay soil is what Mexico houses use to made out of.

Answer 4

the main fulfillment therapy for clay soil is gypsum. upload to the soil with organic and organic count. It purely desires to be extra to the soil as much as 3 circumstances (as quickly as a three hundred and sixty 5 days) reckoning on how 'clayey' your soil is, it completely keeps to be interior the soil to create air and drainage passage for the soil. PH assessments do no longer teach how plenty clay is interior the soil, they simply teach the acidity/alkalinity of the soil. over the years the soil will progressively strengthen, and continuously upload as plenty organic and organic count as you are able to. there is not any speedy restoration for clay, in simple terms sluggish progression. there have been fairly some questions asked approximately clay soils in this internet site recently use the quest for questions on the coolest of the internet site and you gets some extra concepts. check out the BBC gardening internet site. England has very clay soils and notice what plant life they recommend. i hit upon English trees and shrubs cope properly fairly if the soil is saved moist. good luck.

Answer 5

I'm supposed to know this since I'm certified as a science teacher--soil is as I recall from my JH school days composed of humus, sand, and clay, and I'm sure there's a test to determine percentages. Clay keeps water in and is used as a sealant in dams.

Answer 6

composed of humus, sand, and clay, and I'm sure there's a test to determine percentages. Clay keeps water in and is used as a sealant in dams.

Answer 7

It feels hard like a brick when you water it a little bit, it feels smooth when you touch it.