CLAI / CLAY SOIL: Smaller particle size, Feels sticky when wet and can be moulded into various shapes, Will swell when wet and shrink when dry, Can hold more water than most soil types, Land is wet in winter and slow to warm up in spring, SANDY SOILS: Have the largest particle size, Soil feels coarse and gritty, Called 'light soils' due to the little power needed to cultivate, This soil type is free draining, They warm up early in spring and crops are susceptible to burn due to the low water holding capacity, They have a low organic matter content (2-3%), SILTS: Has a buttery feel and is difficult to drain and manage, Those containing fine sand are one of the most fertile soils in the country, LOAMS: They have an intermediate texture between clay and sandy soils, They have most of the advantages and a few of the disadvantages of the clay and sandy soils, They warm up reasonably early in spring and are fairly resistant to drought, CALCAREOUS SOILS: Derived from chalk and limestone and contain various amounts of calcium carbonate, Sharp stones and chalk formations can effect sowing and harvesting and hard wearing on machinery, Free draining and shallow soil, can be prone to drought, pH usually > 7.0 (Alkaline soil), PEATY SOILS: These have been formed in waterlogged areas where mosses, heather and rushes grew and the dead material was only partly broken down, These are rich in Nitrogen but have low levels of phosphates and potash, pH range from 4-6,

SOILS

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