Soil is the most essential element in nature, covering our entire land. It is formed by weathering of rocks over a very long period. Its components consist of minerals, organic matter, water, living organisms, etc. Clay soil is commonly used for gardening as it is easily occurring and freely available.

Varying environmental conditions influence the type of soil. Soil is classified as clay, sandy, silt, loam, chalky and peat soil. All these soil types differ from each other in many parameters i.e. texture, color, composition, etc. 

Introduction

Clay soil has a significant amount of clay minerals present in it. This soil consists of fine mineral particles which are tightly packed with very little space between them. It is available in different variants from grey to red color. Clayey soil generally has 25% clay particles. Soil with a higher percentage of soil particles is referred to as ‘heavy clay soil’.

Clay soil particles are closely packed which makes the soil compact. Due to the compactness of soil particles, water is difficult to drain hence it has better water storage capacity. Water puddles are formed due to the accumulation of excess water.

Climatic conditions greatly influence the physical structure of this soil. During rains or in winters the soil is wet and gluey whereas during summer the soil dries and cracks occur. It is very sticky when wet. Hence it binds easily on gardening equipment, tools, shoes, etc. and is difficult to remove.

Its density is high which hinders the growth of plant roots. Soil charging is essential for gardening to reap better results. Let us discuss the benefits and drawbacks of clay soil. 

The different soil types are:

Clay soil: Clayey soil is very sticky and has high density due to the presence of clay particles. Getting rid of clay soil from your tools or shoes is very difficult. This type of soil is not suitable for plants. Its compactness becomes a barrier in the growth of plant roots. Its density has to be reduced and enriched before gardening.

Sandy soil: Sandy soil has a high proportion of sand and less clay. Unlike clay soil, sandy soil is light in weight, dry and warm. It is acidic and consists of more nutrients. It is composed of many irregular and round-shaped sand grains. Sandy soil gives a gritty feel and will fall freely when compared to wet, sticky clay soil. This is fast-draining soil which filters water as well. It’s very easy to work with this type of soil even after heavy rains because of its draining capacity.

Silt soil: Silt is solid, dust-like sediment which is naturally transported. Silt soil consists of mineral-rich rock particles which are formed by erosion due to water and ice. The size of particles of silt is bigger than that of clay but smaller than particles of sand. Particles of silt soil hold water for a long time. Its drainage capacity is less hence it gets slippery when wet.

Loam soil: Loam soil is prepared by a mixture of clay soil, sand soil and silt soil. Generally, equal parts of these three types of soil are mixed to produce loam soil. Loam soil is porous which allows air to pass through it which aids plant growth. The crumbly texture of this soil makes gardening easy and productive.

Chalky soil: Calcium carbonate from sediments that had been building up over time ends up in chalky soil. This soil is often stony and shallow, with good drainage. Its lime-rich and alkaline in nature, its pH value ranges approximately from 7.1 to 8.0. Chalk and white stones are visible in chalky soils. The physical structure varies from gravely to clay-like. Acidifying of chalky soil is required for reducing its alkalinity.

Peat soil: Peat soil is formed in wetlands over some time. It is formed by the accumulation of partially decomposed plant residues. This accumulation generally consists of moss, shrubs and sedges. It is generally dark in color and spongy in texture. It cannot be rolled into a ball as in the case of clay soil. A handful of peat soil contains little sticks rotten leaves etc. Peat soil is nutrient-rich, porous, less dense and has huge water content.

Benefits of clay soil in gardening:

Clay soil is beneficial when used for gardening owing to its physical properties, nutritional content and presence of organic matter which is best suited for plants. It is beneficial in various gardening methods like no-till gardening, back to eden gardening etc. Some of its benefits are:

1) Mineral content: When compared with other types of soil, clayey soil has a good amount of mineral and organic content. Such nutrition-rich soil is good for the growth of vegetation. Presence of iron, calcium, potassium and little traces of other useful organic matter aids in plant growth. Mixing clay soil with sand and silt soil makes it more suitable for plants to thrive.

2) Density of soil: Other types of soil used for gardening are loose and not much suited to bear the weight of vegetation. Clay soil is added to such soil types to make soil dense and enhance its load-bearing capacity. Its particles are closely packed and have a small gap between them. When mixed with other types of soil, its particles bind all the soil particles. Thereby increasing the density of soil hence making it more supportive for vegetation. Its particles bind all the soil particles. Thereby increasing the density of soil hence making it more supportive for vegetation.

3) Moisture retention: Clay soil has great moisture carrying capacity, whereas other types of soil have easy water drainage. Easy drainage leads to loss of nutrients hence clay soil is mixed therein. It increases the moisture-holding capacity and reduces the loss of nutritional content.

4) Control of erosion: When compared to other soil types, particles of clay soil have amazing binding between them. It cant be washed away easily even in floods or heavy rain. It is mixed with other soil types for preventing soil erosion.

Drawbacks of clay soil in gardening:

1) Slow drainage: Particles of clay soil are closely packed which drains water slowly. Excess water leads to water-logging which damages plants and their roots.

2) Compacts easily: Clayey soil has a very high tendency to get compressed. It compacts very easily when it encounters load. Compacting further reduces drainage which results in improper nourishment and growth of plant roots.

3) Sticky: Due to the presence of clay in the soil, it becomes very sticky in wet conditions. It sticks on gardening equipment, shoes, tools, etc making gardening tasks difficult.

4) Heavy: Clayey soil absorbs water and stores it in large quantities which makes it heavy. It hence becomes difficult to work upon during the rainy and winter season.

5) Alkaline: Clayey soil is alkaline, which may not be suitable for the growth of some plants.

Improving clay soil:

Working with clayey soil in the garden is very difficult and tedious. It stores ample water making it heavy and sticky. It’s not suitable for the proper growth of plants despite being nutrient-rich because of the drawbacks mentioned above. Clayey soil can however be improved by following few practices as stated below:

1) Amending soil: To lighten the soil and reduce its density clay soil is mixed with other soil types. These amendments are very necessary as it improves drainage, aeration, porosity, etc. which is best suited for the growth of plants.

2) Amending with organic matter: Various types of soil are amended to increase its properties. It is often observed that soil begins to form like cement as its particles start binding. To prevent this, organic matter like fallen leaves, stocks, plant residues, etc are added. This helps make pockets in the soil which improves drainage and nutritional content. Organic matter like fallen leaves, stocks, plant residues, etc are added. This helps make pockets in the soil which improves drainage and nutritional content.

3) Aerate the soil: After amending soils and adding organic matter next step is to aerate the soil. It can be done by using gardening tools like a broad fork, digging fork, plug coring aerator, etc. This produces air pockets that allow air to mix with the soil.

4) Planting cover crop: Planting cover crops will help in the maintenance and protection of soil. Roots of cover crops go deeper into the soil which aids in reducing erosion. Commonly used cover crops are rye, wheat, barley, oats, sorghum, etc.

5) Avoid walking on the ground: After aeration one should avoid walking in the garden where vegetation is planted or is to be planted. Walking on the soil will make it compact which affects aeration and drainage. Plant growth is badly affected due to these important factors.