Explain the various types of soils.

On the basis of the origin of their constituents, Soils can be divided into following two groups:

• Residual Soils
• Transported Soils

Residual soils are those soils that remains at the place of their formation as a result of the weathering of the parent rocks. The depth of residual soils depends primarily on climatic conditions and the time of exposure. An important characteristics of the residual soil is that the sizes of the grains are indefinite. For example- when the residual soil is sieved, the amount passing through any given sieve size depends greatly on the time and energy expended in shaking, because of partially disintegarated conditions.

Transported soils are the soils that are found at locations far from their place of formation. The transporting agencies of such soils are glaciers, wind and water. The soils are named according to the mode of deposition as:

• Alluvial deposit
• L....

On the basis of the origin of their constituents, Soils can be divided into following two groups:

• Residual Soils
• Transported Soils

Residual Soils:

Residual soils are those soils that remains at the place of their formation as a result of the weathering of the parent rocks. The depth of residual soils depends primarily on climatic conditions and the time of exposure. An important characteristics of the residual soil is that the sizes of the grains are indefinite. For example- when the residual soil is sieved, the amount passing through any given sieve size depends greatly on the time and energy expended in shaking, because of partially disintegarated conditions.

Transported Soils:

Transported soils are the soils that are found at locations far from their place of formation. The transporting agencies of such soils are glaciers, wind and water. The soils are named according to the mode of deposition as:

• Alluvial deposit
• Lacustrine deposit
• Marine deposit
• Aeolian deposit

Soils that has been deposited from suspension in running water are alluvial deposits.

Lacustrine deposit:

Soils that has been deposited from suspension in still, fresh water of lakes are lacustrine deposits.

Marine deposit:

Soils that has been deposited from suspension in sea water.

Aeolian deposit:

Soils that have been transported by winds are aeolian soils.
 Glacial soils:

Soils that have been transported by ice are glacial soils.

Soils are also classified as :

• Organic Soils
• Inorganic Soils