What Are the 10 Different Types of Soil?

Chalk and Sand

• Chalk and sand are among the lowest quality soil types to grow plants in, though for different reasons. Chalk, which is usually found over lime beds, has a high lime content and dries very quickly; both these conditions lead to stunted plant growth and can also turn plants yellow. Sand, meanwhile, is a very loose soil and drains easily, leading to little water for plants.

Clay and Silt

• Clay and silt are very similar; they both can be very compact and are, therefore, among the heaviest soil types. They both hold water very easily once water enters, but the trade off is that it can be hard for water or air to enter; drainage is also a problem. This soil works best with plants that require large amounts of water, and gardeners usually have to break up the soil periodically.

Gravel

• Gravel is a mix of very small stones that are still much larger than most soil particles; it can be a mixture of any types of rocks. Gravel cannot grow plants by itself because it contains no nutrients, but it can aid other soil types when added. Its ability to trap heat in daylight helps plants grow in warmer climates, and it can prevent plants from receiving too much water.

Mulch and Compost

• Mulch and compost are not natural earth soil but mixtures of organic material. Mulch is primarily composed of plant particles like leaves, bark and wood chips. Compost is a mixture of organic waste products, which are usually left to decompose to release more nutrients. Gardeners often add both mulch and compost to natural soil to increase nutrient content.

Topsoil and Loam

• Topsoil and loam are both mixtures of many other soils. Topsoil can be a mixture of many different soil types, but it usually includes a small amount of organic material. Loam is a specific topsoil mixture of silt, clay and sand to give it a combination of water containment and drainage. The mixed content of these soils is why they are the most frequently used for gardening.

Hydroponics

• Hydroponics is a very unique way of growing plants because it technically isn't soil at all but a way of growing plants directly in water. Hydroponics may use a very small amount of another soil, like sand or gravel, to keep the roots stable, but foam may be used also. Water and other nutrients are then pumped artificially to the plants.