What is Soil?

• A mixture of: Minerals, Organic Matter, Air and Water
• An ideal soil is about 50% pore space and 50% solid material.

What is Soil Texture?

• Soil texture is the relative amounts of fine, medium, and coarse sized particles that compose the mineral portion of the soil. These particles fall into 3 size classes: sand, silt, clay. See soil texture triangle below.
• Texture can be estimated in the field with a "hand-feel method".
• Soil texture affects soils productivity by influencing water and air movement, ease of tillage, root growth, and nutrient retention.

How Compaction affects your soil?

• Soil compaction reduces pore space, soil aeration and permeability. The result is often restricted root growth and nutrient uptake.
• Livestock, whether it is cows, horses or small ruminants, the weight of the animal compared to the size of its hoof can exert more compaction than a tractor!
• FUN FACT - In the past, sheep were used to pack an area to create a dam.

Photo above: The USDA textural triangle (Soil Survey Division Staff, 1993). 

Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC):

• Measures the capacity of the soil to hold exchangeable cations (positively charged ions).

Think of this concept as parking lot spaces for cars. A big box store has more parking spaces than a dollar store. Therefore, the higher the CEC your soil has, the more space is available to hold your nutrients. In other words, more nutrients can be absorbed in your soil.

CEC (found on your soil sample result) and Soil Texture: