Question

Which of the following soil is the best for plant growth?
(a) Sandy
(b) Clayey
(c) Gravel
(d) Loamy soil

Answer 1

Hint: The ideal soil for the growth of the plant should consist of sand, clay, and silt in appropriate proportion.

Complete answer:
Loamy soil is the best soil for the proper growth of the plants. It is mainly found in the region of Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. It is made up of 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% of clay by weight. Based on the proportion of different components, it can further be categorized as sandy loam, silty loam, clayey loam, sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, and loam. It is very rich in humus, nutrients, moisture, and oxygen.
It comprises three layers of soil, the dark brown surface layer; the pale brown subsurface layer, and the red clayey subsoil layer. The composition of the soil helps in the infiltration of nutrients and helps in proper aeration of the soil.
Loamy soil is also used in the construction of bricks along with mud, sand, water, and binding substances such as rice husks or straw. In list and beam construction, the inner layer of the wall is covered by loamy soil to absorb moisture.

So, the correct answer is Loamy soil.

Note: The soil comprises different particles varying in shape, size, and texture. The size of the clay particle is less than 0.002 mm, the size of the silt ranges from 0.002-0.05 mm, the size of sand particles ranges from 0.05-2 mm and the particles greater than 2mm in size are considered as gravel or stone.