What is Soil Structure?
The arrangement of soil particles and is affected by aggregates, aggregate stability, organic matter levels, calcium levels versus sodium and magnesium, air to water ratio and temperature.
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Title | Source | Resource type and date | Short Summary |
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Soil Health 101 | Soil Health NEXUS | Extension Webpage
Jan 2017 |
The soil structure is made up of the soil profile, bulk density, and aggregates |
Soil Structure and Macropores | Soilquality.org – NRCS & others | Webpage
Sep 2011 |
Soil structure is the combination or arrangement of primary soil particles into aggregates. |
Soil Health Nexus Demonstration How-To: Slump Test | Soil Health Nexus | How-to video
May 2019 |
Techniques to measure soil structure and aggregation. The more aggregate stability you have, the more stable your soil. Prevents erosion. |
Soil Physical Properties Fact Sheet | North Dakota State University | Extension Factsheet
Not Dated |
Soil physical properties affect the behavior of soil and the functional processes required to meet environmental and human needs |
Soil Quality Indicators: Soil Structure & Macropores | USDA | NRCS Factsheet
Jun 2008 |
Soil structure is the combination or arrangement of primary soil particles into aggregates. |
Soil Particles, Water, and Air | SARE | Governmental / Extension Webpage
Not Dated |
Soil particles are the building blocks of the soil skeleton. But the spaces (pores) between the particles and between aggregates are just as important as the sizes of the particles themselves. |
Soil Quality Demonstrations and Procedures | USDA-ARS | Lesson Plans
Jan 2011 |
Soil Clod and Scum Tests |
Soil Health Assessments: Grass Soil Pit and Row Crop Soil Pit | Soil Health Nexus | How-to Videos
May 2019 |
Using soil pits can show many properties of soil. In the video above, Gene Campbell with the NRCS assesses a grass soil pit. In the video below, Travis Harper with University of Missouri Extension assesses a row crop soil pit. |
Soil Health Assessment: Soil Core Test | Soil Health Nexus | How-to Video
May 2019 |
Todd Lorenz with University of Missouri Extension shows how to use a core sampler instead of a soil pit. |
Soil Structure | Purdue Soil Health Education website | Video Sep 2017 |
Short basic educational video showing granular, platy block, prismatic structure. |
Soil Formation | Purdue Soil Health Education website | Video April 2017 |
Dr. John Graveel uses soil profiles to discuss soil formation with emphasis on parent material. |
Soil Profiles | Purdue Soil Health Education website | Video Sep 2017 |
Dr. John Graveel, Professor of Agronomy at Purdue University discusses differences in soil profiles. |
Soil Structure Photo | Purdue Soil Health Education website | Image Not Dated |
Photo of soil structure |
Title | Source | Resource type and date | Short Summary |
---|---|---|---|
Building Healthy Soils | University of Tennessee | Extension Factsheet
Sep 2012 |
Soil texture is the relative percentage of sand, silt and clay found in soil; structure refers to the way these particles are grouped, or aggregated, together. |
Soil Quality Information | Penn State | Extension Webpage
Aug 2012 |
Healthy soils yield healthy crops, But what is healthy soil and how do we achieve it? |
This page reviewed by Liz Schultheis, Rick Koelsch, Anna Cates, Walt Sell, and Joe Rorick.
Last reviewed 10/1/19