Agricultural Science

Loamy soil explained with its characteristics

len Alfred Ajibola - 14th August, 2023 @ 04:20 PM

Topics in Agricultural Science

Soil formation in agricuture Economic empowerment through agricuture Management as a factor of production in agriculture Labor as a factor of production in agriculture Finance as a factor of production in agriculture Water as a factor of production in agriculture Land as a factor of production in agriculture Len Academy Agricultural Science midterm questions for JSS1, 2nd term Len Academy Agricultural Science midterm questions for jss2, 2nd term Clay soil explained with its types and characteristics Loamy soil explained with its characteristics Sandy soil: Characteristics of sandy soil and ways to make it fertile Soil explained with its composition Types of agricultural practices Crop rotation explained Benefits of crop rotation Differences between subsistence and commercial farming Subsistence farming explained with its characteristics What is commercial farming? Types of commercial farming Characteristics of commercial farming


Academic Questions in Agricultural Science

Please click here to see all Questions and Answers

The ideal pH for the optimum growth of most agricultural crop is between _____.

  • A. 1 – 3.5

  • B. 4 – 5.5

  • C. 6 – 7.5

  • D. 8 – 9.5

  • E. 10 – 11.5

  • F. 12 – 13.5

People who go about their lives by raising and herding livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats are said to practice _____.

  • A. Pastoralism

  • B. Pasturalism

  • C. Herding

  • D. Herdsmen

  • E. Animalism

  • F. Anime Farming

The act of giving birth in pigs is called _____.

  • A. Calving

  • B. Piggery

  • C. Kidding

  • D. Farrowing

  • E. Calfing

  • F. Pigging

Which of the following is not a vegetable?

  • A. Cashew

  • B. Cocumber

  • C. Tomatoes

  • D. Carrot

  • E. Squash

  • F. Eggplant

All plants are crops.

  • A. True

  • B. False

In agriculture, macronutrients are essential nutrients required by plants. Which of the following is not a macronutrient?

  • A. Zinc

  • B. Sulphur

  • C. Calcium

  • D. Phosphorus

  • E. Potassium

  • F. Magnesium

Which of the following is false concerning micronutrients?

  • A. They are non-essential nutrients

  • B. They are required by plants in minute quantities

  • C. Iron is a micronutrient

  • D. Chlorine is a micronutrient

  • E. Copper is a micronutrient

  • F. Boron is a micronutrient

_____ is a term that describes the biological, chemical and cultural control tactics employed to make pest management economical, environmentally friendly and socially acceptable.

  • A. Integrated Pest Management

  • B. Integral Pest Management

  • C. International Pest Management

  • D. Inclusive Pest Management

  • E. Imbibed Pest Management

  • F. Inclusion Pest Management



Loamy Soil:

Loamy soil is one of the types of soil. It comprises majorly of loam, alongside other particles like sand, silt and clay respectively. Loamy soil is distinguished from other soil types via its high humus content and beneficial microorganisms. For now, you can think of humus as 'organic matter '.

In simple terms, loam refers to a soil that isn't dominated by sand, silt and clay. It is sometimes considered a healthy balance of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter.

Please read on sandy soil here.

 

Loamy soil has an excellent blend of soil composition, humus and microorganisms. In addition, it is great at retaining soil nutrients, while permitting the drainage of excess water (to reduce waterlogging). These properties of loamy soil makes it the most suitable soil for crop cultivation. For this reason, it is sometimes termed as agricultural soil.

Please read an introduction to soil here.

 

Generally, loamy soil contains more nutrients and microorganisms than all other soil types. It has a better water holding capacity than sandy soil, as well as better aeration, drainage and infiltration in comparison to silt and clay soils.

 

Below is an image of loamy soil.

Loamy Soil - Len Academy

You can read key-points in agricultural science here.

 

The concept of loamy soil is best summarized and understood through its characteristics.

 

Characteristics of Loamy Soil

  1. Loamy soil is moist, loose, and dark greyish (or dark brown) in appearance.
    Please read on clay soil explained with its characteristics here.

  2. It comprises of different soil particules such as loam, sand, silt, and clay. However, loam constitute over 50% of these particles.

  3. Loamy soil is rich in organic matter or humus. This plays a major role in the soil's fertility, nutrient availability and water holding capacity.
    You can read on commercial farming here.

  4. It has a moderate capillary action. This implies that the root of plants can easily draw up its waters, while excess water is drained away. This action reduces waterlogging in loamy soils.

  5. Loamy soil has a great tilth. In this regard, it can be easily tilled, thus presenting an excellent support structure for crop cultivation.

  6. The texture of loamy soil is quite non-powdery and non-sticky. This supports the passage of a decent amount of water and air through it.
    You can read on agricultural land and its uses here.

  7. It comprises a balanced composition of different sized particules, giving it an averagely fine texture. This makes it break easily when wet and friable when dry.

  8. The pH of loamy soil is somewhat neutral (or just slightly acidic); and this is quite good for nutrient retention.
    Please read on types of agricultural practices here.

  9. With regards to its texture, loamy soil is easy to work with since the particles aren't excessively adhesive nor too separated. This makes planting easy.

  10. In addition to other materials, loamy soil may be used in the construction of houses. 

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Amazing facts in Agricultural Science

Cows technically have one stomach, not four. However, a cow's stomach has four compartments. These are: rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum

Peanuts are legumes and not nuts

Although plants neither see nor hear, they can recognize their siblings and even give them preferential treatments

Squirrels do plant more trees (through their actions) than an average human in their lifetime. They often hide their acorns and nuts underground and forget about them

Cows have got the ability to walk up stairs, but not down stairs

A group of cows is called a team, drove or herd.

People just prefer to call them herd


Notable points in Agricultural Science

Below are characteristics of gymnosperms:

  1. Their seeds have cones that protect them.

  2. Sepals and petals aren't present in their cones.

  3. Stigma and style are absent.

  4. They do not produce fruits. Only seeds are formed.

  5. Companion cells are absent.

  6. Sporophyll form the cones.

  7. Anther and filament are absent.

  8. The ovules are not present in the ovary.

  9. Gymnosperms do not possess flowers.

  10. Please read on the anatomical differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms here

The flower is the reproductive organ in plants' sexual reproduction. In order to achieve a successful sexual propagation or reproduction in plants, the floral parts of the flower are utilized.

The floral parts of a flower consists of the followings:

  1. Sepals

  2. Petals

  3. Stamen

  4. Carpel

The stamen is male portion of a plant. It consists of the anther and filament.

The carpel (or pistil) is the female portion of the plant. It consists of the stigma, style and ovary.

Please read more on plants' sexual reproduction here

An organism will be considered a pest if it does one of the followings:

  • Attack crops and eat its seeds, roots, stem, leaves and flowers. Examples are locust and grasshoppers.

  • Cause damage to stored food, fruits or other agricultural produce. Some may even urinate or deaficate on these products. Examples are rodents, cockroaches and mice.

  • Attack and kill farm animals like goats, sheep and cattle. Examples are foxes, wild cats and snakes.

  • Act as disease vectors. A vector is an organism that carries parasite and other disease causing organisms, without being affected; but when they introduce the parasites into their host, such host becomes infected with disease. Examples of vectors are rodents and mosquitoes.

    Please read more on vectors of diseases here.

Below are the classification of crops based on their uses:

  • Oil crops

  • Vegetable crops

  • Latex crops

  • Drug and Medicinal crops

  • Beverage crops

  • Fibre crops

  • Fruit crops

  • Root and Tubers

  • Legumes

  • Spices

  • Cereals

All crops are plants but not all plants are crops. Below are some instances:

  • Weeds are considered as plants, not crops.

  • Parasitic plants are not necessarily crops. Examples of parasitic plants include mistletoe, corpse flower and striga.

  • Carnivorous or insectivorous plants are not necessarily crops. Examples are sundew, venus flytrap and pitcher plant. The image below shows a carnivorous plant (venus flytrap).

Venus flytrap - Len Academy

 

Meanwhile, always understand that all crops are plants, and they are grown for food, money or something beneficial.

Please read on plants versus crops here