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Loam (in geology and soil science) is soil composed mostly of sand (particle size > 63 micrometres (0.0025 in)), silt (particle size > 2 micrometres (7.9 × 10 −5 in)), and a smaller amount of clay (particle size < 2 micrometres (7.9 × 10 −5 in)).
loam, Rich, friable (crumbly) soil with nearly equal parts of sand and silt, and somewhat less clay. The term is sometimes used imprecisely to mean earth or soil in general. Loam in subsoil receives varied minerals and amounts of clay by leaching (percolation) from the topsoil above.
When a soil contains a mixture of grain sizes, the soil is called a loam (figure 1). When soil scientists want to precisely determine soil type, they measure the percentage of sand, silt, and clay. They plot this information on a triangular diagram, with each size particle at one corner (figure 2).
The soil types in the study areas include red loam, clayey loam, and sandy loam with variable thickness at the top layer. Soil type and thickness plays an extremely important role in controlling the movement of water over and through the watershed.
There are three types of loamy soil; each is determined by its composition. Light loamy soil consists of more sand than clay or silt. Medium loamy soil is the most sought after because it contains equal amounts of each component. Heavy loamy soil contains more clay than anything else.
A typical loam soil will consist of roughly 50% soil solids (a combination of sand, silt, and clay) and 50% pore spaces and water. The size and distribution of pore spaces will depend on the size and shape of the mineral particles, as well as the activity of microorganisms.
14 lip 2021 · Loam soil is a mineral mixture of clay, sand, and silt. In the right proportions, loam is the ideal medium for growing plants. Its mineral content makes up less than half of the...
