Soil structure describes the way the sand, silt and clay particles are clumped together. The soil has enough pores as well as water retention capacity to promote crop production. Even a simple property, such as the soil thickness, can range from a few centimetres to many metres, depending on the intensity and duration of weathering, episodes of soil deposition and erosion, and the patterns of landscape evolution. The exact composition of the soil, however, might vary from place to place with the existing rocks of the area and the climate. Here are some of the physical properties of soil: Soil Texture The texture of soil is based on the size distribution of the constituent particles. Influence of Soil Moisture on Soil Gas Vapor Concentration for Vapor Intrusion. An even, single colour indicates the soil is well drained. Clay soils are poorly drained and hold on to the water in their pore spaces for much longer. Three moisture conditions define soil consistency; air-dry, moist, and wet. The relative importance of soil properties in explaining the microbial beta diversity appeared to vary with soil moisture and stratification treatments. Organic matter found in the soil matrix is humus which is the final stage of degradation of dead plants and animals. The evolution of soils and their properties is called soil formation, and pedologists have identified five fundamental soil formation processes that influence soil properties. Soil texture: Soil texture defines the proportion in which the soil separates to make the mineral component of the soil. Soil porosity refers to the pores within the soil. The name comes from two Greek words – ‘pedon’ meaning soil and ‘logos’ meaning study. Soil physical properties refer to properties such as soil texture, bulk density, aggrega- tion, aggregate stability, and soil water content and water retention. In addition, soils are good materials used in engineering projects. Lime requirement, or the amount of liming material needed to raise the soil pH to a certain level, increases with CEC. The most common minerals found in soil that support plant growth are phosphorus, and potassium and also, nitrogen gas. The way in which a soil is managed can affect its porosity. Soil gases are different types of gases that are present within the pores between soil particles or soil aggregates. Black cotton soil is the clay-rich soil i.e. Soils can be acid, alkaline or neutral. In soil air, C0 2 amount is comparatively larger but oxygen amount is com­paratively smaller when these are compared with atmospheric air. The gases found in soil include carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen. Cohesion is greater in well compacted clays and it is independent of the exte… The biotic and abiotic factors in the soil are what make up the soil’s composition. Clay soil is a type of soil that is comparatively heavy as it has higher water retention capacity and a higher concentration of nutrients. Nutrients like potassium and ammonium have positive charges. Soil provides the raw material for different purposes like clay for ceramic production. Sand particles are quite big. Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Carrots and lettuces prefer soils with a neutral pH of 7.0. Healthy soils have many pores between and within the aggregates. Good quality soils are friable (crumbly) and have fine aggregates so the soil breaks up easily if you squeeze it. The properties of soil are determined by the composition of the soil, depending on different amounts of biotic and abiotic components. When many particles or peds are aggregated into cluster, a compound particle is formed. The absorbed water also moves downward through the soil profile towards the water bodies, thus acting as a regulator for water supplies. 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