1. What is the relation f soil texture to soil physical and chemical property?

According to nrcs.usda.org, the soil texture is defined as the proportion of soil separates that make up the
mineral component of the soil.
Soil texture is greatly related to its physical and chemical property in terms of the ability of the soil to retain
nutrients, allow conduction of soil air and water and to allow other processes to happen between the soil and its
environment.
In the physical attributes of the soil, when its either loose or comjpact, the growth of plants may be affected. It
should be that its texture must be on the accepted texture so that production or usage of the soil will be
maximize.
Chemical activities happening in the soil may also be affected or may change if the texture is not based on the
accepted standard. So, I think, therefore, the relation between the structure of the soil to its physical and
chemical property and directly proportional at some extent and must be always considered.
2. How is the degree of disturbance related to your bulk density?
Based on the article published in usda.gov, bulk density is an indicator of soil compaction and soil health. It is a
physical property which can be used as a simple index of the general structural conditions of the soil.
Disturbances happen in different forms. It could be physical, chemical and may be biological form. The greater
the degree of disturbance that may happen to the soil, the greater will also be the bulk density since bulk
density is defined mathematically as the ratio of the mass of oven-dried soil to its volume including both solids
and pores. For example, if the soil has been tilled frequently and not properly, it this will contribute to the ways
that it will become compact. Compact soils are not good for plant growth as it restricts root movement and
growth.
So therefore, the more disturb the soil is the greater is its bulk density.
3. Describe the factors affecting soil structure.
Soil structure can be affected physically. Too loose or too compact may affect plant growth or the purpose of the
soil whether its agricultural, industrial or anything else. Water and nutrient retention are affected. There are soil
types with soil structure that retain water for a long period of time which not good for other plants. And some
soil with structure that does not retain water for long thus, makes it not good also for propagation.
Chemically, specifically the exchange of nutrients between the roots and the soil. Like for example, too acidic or
too alkaline soil affects plant growth.
Biologically, by all living organisms like earthworms and other organisms interacting to the soil will greatly affect
it. Too much interaction or usage of the soil by living organisms may cause too much compaction or may cause
too loose soils.
4. How does clay content of the soil affect soil physical properties?
Clay has the characteristics like it has a very high specific surface area resulting in very high capacity to absorb
water and nutrient. It is sticky and “plastic when wet. It behaves as colored/do not easily settled out when
suspended in water. Water holding capacity and nutrient holding capacity is good. air cannot circulate well in
clay. And there will be low leaching. Clay has poor workability. With this characteristic, I think clay is not good
for agriculture. As it affects its physical properties. It may create a very compact structure thus restricting root
movement and eventually plant growth. It is not good for plant growth as water retention is high and aeration is
poor. But if mixed with different other soil type, it may create the best type of soil. Enough amount of clay
present in a certain area is good as we have clay loam. In some usage clay soil might be good.
5. How can good soil structure be maintained/develop?
Good soil structure must be maintained to ensure excellent usage (be it agricultural, industrial, or commercial).
There are different ways of maintaining good soil structure. You may apply organic soil fertilizers to avoid too
much chemical disturbance in the soil. Practice crop rotation using crops that may enhance and develop the soil
to be productive. You may also practice “no-till” or idling the land so that the land can recover lost nutrients and
at some point, “breath and rest” too. Reducing the number of trips or passing through in the field especially the
heavy equipment like heavy trucks and the like. Make a passageway away from the field or crop production
area. This strategy may minimize soil disturbance. Aerating the soil may also help. Good cropping practices must
be applied like strip cropping so that erosion in huge scale will be prevented, preserving the productive part of
the soil.

1. What tends to happen to if the field is subjected to continuous mechanized cultivation?

Since agriculture is revolutionizing or improving, we cannot help but to provide modernize equipment to
increase profit and reducing production cost and expenses.
But sometimes we must also think of the consequences that my arise in this modernization. According to
some studies, continuous mechanized cultivation may reduce volumetric water content due to compaction
and other disturbances that happens in the field. This reduces the ability of the soil to absorb and retain
water in the process. And of course, as what I have though, would likely decrease production overtime.
Modernize equipment are heavy and they contribute to the rapid compaction of the soil. If the soil is
compact, the water may not be absorbed immediately or less water will be absorb thus the soil will not be
productive and as time goes by, production profit will be lesser and lesser.
2. You have sand as potting media. What would likely happen to water content at FC of the potting media if
you added and mixed an equal amount of clay?

Base on the characteristics of sand, it has good infiltration but its water holding and nutrient holding
capacity is poor. Sand has good aeration, and its workability is good, and leaching is high in sand. In the case
of clay, it has poor infiltration. Its water and nutrient holding capacity is good with poor aeration and
workability. And leaching is low.
Mixing clay with sand I think will provide a maximized usage to sand since both media type has opposite
characteristics. This will increase the water and holding capacity of the potting media, provide good aeration
and workability and leaching will be good in the potting media.
Since the water holding capacity of the media will become better, I think the field capacity of the media will
also increase. In sand alone, the field capacity is not good since the water will drain after a few moments.
But with clay, with very high-water holding capacity, it will create harmony between the two and the field
capacity as I have said will increase.
3. Describe the importance of soil water to the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil?

Based on what I have understood in this module, soil water is very important especially in the different
processes which involves soil. The amount of water is a factor that determines productivity of a certain land.
Water is important to the soil’s physical property since water makes the soil good for planting. It loosens the
soil and water in soil allows growth of plants. Dry soil is hard and compact thus plants cannot grow well in
dry soil.
If there is no water in soil or the soil has less water content, it may cause poor absorption of nutrients since
water serves as the carrier of the nutrients to the different parts of the plant. Most living organisms are
dependent to water, especially plants. Plants grow in soil and their water source is in the soil so if the soil is
dry plants may not be able to survive.

4. Why do we need to know how much water (water content) is in the soil?
In agriculture, we need to identify how much water or water content is in the soil so that we will be able to
have excellent production and we may be able to maximize the usage of the soil without destroying the soil
structure. Saturating the soil with water will greatly affect it.
Water is very important in plant growth. It affects the growth of crops in the sense that water serves as the
carrier of nutrients to the different parts of the plants. Different biological processes happening between the
plants and the soil involves water. Plants may find it difficult to extract nutrients from a dry soil. Exchange of
nutrients between the plant and the soil itself is affected by water presence. We will be able to identify the
amount of water we need to irrigate the land. Too much or too little amount of water on the soil may
damage the crop, resulting to poor production and profit loss.