Types of Clay Soil
If you have clay soil, you know how difficult it is to use, but clay soils come in more than one variety and color. Do you know what type you have? Does this Spark an idea?
-
Inorganic Clay
-
Soils formed completely by clay minerals are inorganic and difficult to work. Clay exhibits a level of plasticity that retains water but does not allow roots to grow easily.
Organic Clay Soils
-
Clay soils found in sedimentary deposits such as mountain valleys are often organic. This effect is caused by erosion. As the mountain erodes, the clay soil mixed with organic materials like leaves. Dark streaks of decomposed materials can often be found in organic clay soils.
-
Red Clay
-
If you've ever seen a picture of the Southeastern U.S., you've probably seen red clay soil. Instead of being a sedimentary soil like some clays, red clay is caused by the breakdown of the rock underneath the soil over hundreds of years. Red soil gets its distinctive red color from the iron oxide in the rocks.
Colors
-
Other than red, clay soil comes in a variety of colors including gray, brown, green, blue, yellow and near-black. The different colors are caused by the native minerals and organic materials such as plants in the area.
Do You Have Clay Soil?
-
If your yard floods hours after it rains or cracks when it gets dry, you may have clay soil. To check, take a handful of soil a day after it rains and squeeze it. If the soil falls apart, you have sandy soil. If it clumps together, you have clay.
-
