Hang on, Ursula is trying to tell us something! Okay, Ursula, I haven't forgotten. She also needs to tell us that there are different types of soil. The different types depend on the kind of rock that made it, how much organic material is in it, and its texture. Each type of soil has different properties, and Ursula would like to tell us about different types of soil.
The first soil is called sandy soil. Sand is made of a chemical called silicon dioxide, or more commonly called quartz, and sandy soil is formed from big particles. Sandy soil is light and easy to dig, and many gardeners love it. But the big particle size means that water can pass through easily, and plants need regular watering.
Now we find Ursula in another soil called silty soil. Silty soil is similar to sandy soil, but has smaller particles. This means that water does not pass through quite so easily and does not dry out too much. Silty soil is considered one of the most fertile of soils. Plants grow well in it because it is rich in nutrients.
Clay soil is not a good soil for Ursula or plants. It is made up of very tiny particles, and it does not let the water drain very easily. Clay soil is very heavy after rain and plants rot from too much water at their roots. Gardeners dislike clay soil and often have to dig in sand and other materials to loosen it up.
The final type of soil is the worst of all and that is chalky soil. It is so bad, Ursula won't go near it. Chalky soil is very alkaline and does not hold water. It dries out very easily and is very infertile. Chalky soil requires a lot of fertilizer to make it possible to grow anything.
So now Ursula has told us about the main types of soil, let's find out about some other problems soil can have.
