Download soil type and areas of peat(uk) - British Council Schools Online

SOIL TYPE AND AREAS OF
PEAT(UK)
• NOT TOO ACIDIC
• NEED EFFECTIVE
SUB DRAINAGE
• CAREFUL CHOICE
OF ORGANIC
MATTER IS
NEEDED.
.
.
CHALK SOIL OF UNITED KINGDOM(UK)
CHARACTERISTICS OF CHALK
SOIL
It is an alkaline and dry soil ,hence
they are not suitable for planting.
•
They are soft soils. This is the
reason why they break down easily.
They are also shallow, stony and freedrained.
•
CROPS THAT ARE GROWN IN CHALK SOIL
Several varieties of wildflowers and
herbs can grow in chalk soil, for
example poppies ,cornflowers,
cowslips, lavender, rosemary,
chamomile and herbs. Vegetables
such as spinach, sweet corns,
cabbage also grow well in chalk
soil.
AREAS WHERE CHALK SOIL IS
FOUND IN UK
Paris and Britain. ..
LOAM SOIL IN UNITED KINGDOM
•Loam is soil composed mostly of sand and silt, and a
smaller amount of clay .
•Types of loam soils: sandy loam, silty loam, clay loam,
sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, and loam.
•Loam soils generally contain more nutrients, moisture,
and humus than sandy soils, have better drainage and
infiltration of water and air than silt soils, and are easier
to till than clay soils.
•Loam is considered ideal for gardening and agricultural
uses because it retains nutrients well and retains water
while still allowing excess water to drain away.
•Loam is found in a majority of successful farms in
regions around the world known for their fertile land.
•Loam soil feels soft and crumbly and is easy to work over
a wide range of moisture conditions.
SANDY SOIL IN UK
Sandy soils contain less than 10 per cent of clay, and consist
of very small particles of silica and quartz. The amount of
humus present will alter the colour and the texture.
Sand is a light and dry soil. It is one of the warmest soils as it
warms up much more quickly in the spring due to its dryness.
For this reason it is useful in producing early crops.
One of the advantages of a sandy soil is that it can be worked
at any time of the year and it is comparatively easy to
cultivate. On the other hand it is poor in plant foods, coarsegrained, and does not retain moisture.
AREA WHERE IT IS FOUND IN UK
Found in central England towns like Rugby and nearby
Willoughby, sandy soils are known for their harsh, gritty
feel. This soil originates from weathered stones, such as
granite and limestone. The gritty texture of the soil is a
result of these harsh origins. Sandy soils can be easy to
cultivate if there are plenty of nutrients in the soil. It warms
quickly in spring, which helps in creating fertile ground.
However, sandy soil also drains rapidly, becoming
dehydrated quite easily, and this can cause problems when
planting new seeds. Another downside to this type of rapid
draining is that the nutrients can be washed away swiftly,
leaving the ground starved of the right natural foods.
PLANTS GROWN IN SANDY SOIL:
• Food plants
• Other food plants that grow well in sandy soil include tomatoes,
strawberries, blueberries, peppers, lettuce and some kinds of beans.
• Cacti
• Cacti often require sandy soil, being adapted to a readily drained
substrate.
• Flowering plants
• Flowering plants that grow well in sandy soil include day lilies, irises,
hostas, cosmos, bitter-root, red columbine, coreopsis, purple cone flower,
lavender, yarrow, black-eyed Susan, evening primrose, downy phlox and
spotted bee balm.
Many vegetable crops grow in clay soils.
 Feels lumpy and sticky when very wet, rockhard when dry;
 fine-grained soil that combines one or more




clay minerals with traces of metal oxides
and organic matter.
Clays swell and shrink as they wet and dry,
effectively cultivating themselves
In medium-textured soils, clay is often
washed downward through the soil profile
and accumulates in the subsoil
Clay soils contain more than 30 percent fine
clay particles
Clay soils, which are heavier than other type
soils retb retain in water very well,
Leafy Vegetables
Peas
Potatoes
pH value of uk clay soil
•Soil pH values
• for example some clay soils; Alkaline or
‘limey’ with a pH between 7 and 14, for
example chalky soil. With UK soils the pH
Subsoil in United Kingdom
• This is layer lying beneath topsoil.
• Composed of a variable mixture of small particles such as sand,
silt and/or clay.
Characteristics • More Compact than the topsoil.
• It is not as well aerated as the top soil.
• Lighter in colour and more stickier.
• Lacks the organic matter and humus content of topsoil
Area Covered
The agricultural area used is 17.2 million hectares, about 70% of
the land area of the United Kingdom. 36% of the agricultural land
is croppable (arable), or 25% of the total land area. Rest are the
grassland, rough grazing, or woodland.
Major Crops
• Wheat
• Barley
• Oats
• Potatoes
• Sugar Beet
• Oil Seed Rape