Question

Least porous soil is
(a) Silt soil
(b) Peat soil
(c) Clay soil
(d) Loam soil

Answer 1

Hint: The piece of soil, which may roll it into a coil and bend it into a hoop without cracking and falling apart, likelihood is likely to be used in forming pots and sculptures.

Complete step by step answer:
- Clayey soil is formed of a comparatively higher proportion of fine particles.
- The particles are smaller in size, water is often trapped within the tiny gaps between them.
- Clay soils are heavy and hold more water.
- Clay may be a present aluminium silicate composed primarily of fine- grained minerals.
- Organic materials which don't impart plasticity can also be a neighbourhood of clay deposits.
Characteristics of clay soil:
- Clay soil, maybe sticky soil.
Clay is shiny when rubbed by hand.
- When rolled between the hands, clay will form an extended ribbon that doesn't break when wet.
Problems with Clay Soil
- Nutrients aren't liberal to move throughout the soil, causing nutrient deficiencies in plants.
- Standing water in clay soil rots plant roots.
- The roots are unable to grow through clay soil that's compacted thanks to surface human and animal activity.
Thus, clay soil is the least porous.

Additional Information:
Silt soil
- Silt soils, composed mainly of intermediate- sized particles, are fertile, fairly well- drained and hold more moisture than sandy soils, but are easily compacted.
- Pure silt soils are rare, especially in gardens.
- They have a rather soapy, slippery texture, and don't clump easily Problems with sandy soil.
- These soils are made from fine particles which will be easily compacted by treading and use of garden machinery.
- They are susceptible to washing away and wind erosion if left exposed to the weather without plant cover.
Peat soil
- Peat soil occurs in Humid region.
- Peaty soils are high in organic matter, usually with large amounts of dead plants in them, but the organic matter is unable to decompose fully due to a high acid content within the soil.
- Black in colour.
- Highly acidic and heavy.
- Areas: Kottayam & Alleppey in Kerala, Coastal Orissa, Sundarbans of W.B
- Peaty soil isn’t particularly rich in nutrients, but if well handled can actually be a superb soil for planting.
- The peat soil now has subsided below the water levels within the river.
- They aren't drainable anymore by gravity and pumped drainage within the wet tropics isn't economic, never for tree crops.
- These abandoned not drainable peat soils aren't suitable anymore for any use, also not for forestry.
Loam soil
- Loam soil is gritty, moist, and retains water easily.
- Loam soil may be a mixture of clay, sand and silt that avoid the extremes of clay or sandy soils and are fertile, well- drained and simply worked.
- They are often clay- loam or sandy- loam counting on their predominant composition and cultivation characteristics Problems with loamy soil.
- These soil types are susceptible to particular problems. Loamy soils can suffer drainage problems and should not suit plants that require free- draining conditions. Light, loamy soils need tons of watering.
- Loamy soil may be a mixture of sand, soil and silt. It also contains humus, and is, therefore, considered the simplest for the expansion of plants.
So, the right answer is, ‘(c) Clay soil.’

Note: Sandy soil is formed of a greater proportion of massive particles like sand. They can't fit closely together. So, there are large spaces between them. These places are crammed with air. Therefore, during this sort of soil, water absorption is extremely high because the water passes quickly through these spaces. These soils are light, well- aerated and dry.