AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE FOR WEEK 6
SS1
TYPES OF SOIL
There are 3 main types of soil, these are;
Sandy soil
Loamy soil
Clay soil

SANDY SOIL
Definition of Sandy Soil
Sandy soil is any type of soil that contains high proportions of sand particles. The particle
size 0.02mm to 2.00mm diameter.

Properties of Sandy Soil
1. Sandy soil is coarse, grained and gritty.
2. It is loose with poor spaces.
3. It absorbs and losses water easily.
4. It is not sticky when wet and hence cannot form cast or ribbon.
5. Rate percolation in sandy soil is high.
6. It does not support water logging.

Methods of improving sandy soil include;
1) Planting cover crops; Cover crops help provide shade, prevent erosion and add more
nutrients to the soil
2) Application of compost manure; compost manure helps to bind or hold the sand particles
together and also add nutrients to then soil.
3) Application of farm yard manure; This also improve the structure of the soil as well as
add nutrients to the soil
4) Mulching the soil; Mulching, that is covering of the soil surface with dry grass to prevent
water loss through evaporation and nutrient through erosion
5) Avoidance of bush burning; Bush burning promotes soil erosion, kills soil organisms and
removes organic matter and make other nutrients in the soil unavailable to the crops
thereby making the soil infertile

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF SANDY SOIL
1) It is good for the cultivation of few crops such as cotton, groundnut, cassava etc.
2) It is also useful in building; it may be used in combination with cement to mound block
especially for construction of animal pens or livestock buildings.

ASSIGNMENT
1. Discuss the economic importance of sandy soil
2. Give 5 importance of sandy soil.

Submit assignment via WhatsApp to 0803 660 7983, or at the school’d security post

Download Document Here: AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE FOR WEEK 6

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