What is loam composed of

Highly sandy soils can be a problem since they do not hold much water and few nutrients, as well. Adding organic materials to a sandy soil will improve its ability to hold water and nutrients. This translates to about 17 cubic feet of organic matter to cover a square-foot area. And remember that soil improvement is a program, not just a one-shot deal. If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact Indiana Yard and Garden — Purdue Consumer Horticulture at homehort purdue.

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It's that perfect mixture of clay, sand, and silt that will create the empty space which allows minerals, organic matter, water, and air to foster life.

In the beginning, there were rocks — originally granite and basalt, and later shale, slate, limestone, and sandstone. Soils are the product of the weathering of those rocks, whether through mechanical means such as erosion from wind or water or chemical means such as oxidation or hydrolysis.

Granite breaks down into silty sands, basalt into clay-like soil. Shale, slate, and limestone break down into clay and silt. Sandstone, predictably, breaks down into sand. The difference between clay, sand, and silt is in the size of the grain. Sand is big, clay is little, and silt is in between. A particle of very fine clay, on the other hand, will take about years to fall the same four inches. Silt will fall the same distance in five minutes.

Sand, being the largest component, is made of hard minerals, which make it difficult to crush or compact. This creates pockets of air between the grains — necessary for worms and microorganisms to flourish — and improves drainage as water flows easily through them.

Silt, made from quartz and feldspar, is slippery when wet, which makes it home to many microorganisms and decaying organic matter humus. Consequently, it is ideal for the survival of organisms in the soil that are beneficial for plant life. However, loam that has higher amounts of clay is not that conducive for plant life or soil organisms. Farmers usually have problems dealing with loam soil that has higher concentrations of clay. Loam is average in terms of maintaining nutrient levels in the soil.

Sandy loam has fewer nutrients since it drains faster than loam that retains moisture. However, the ability of loam to hold nutrients can be greatly increased by adding compost. Given its ability to retain water and nutrients yet allow drainage, loam soil is excellent for agricultural use.