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Soil Structure

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Soil structure is the shape that the soil takes based on its physical and chemical properties. Each individual unit of soil structure is called a ped. Take a sample of undisturbed soil in your hand (either from the pit or from the shovel or auger). Look closely at the soil in your hand and examine its structure. Possible choices of soil structure are:

Granular: Resembles cookie crumbs and is usually less than 0.5 cm in diameter. Commonly found in surface horizons where roots have been growing.

Blocky: Irregular blocks that are usually 1.5 - 5.0 cm in diameter.

Prismatic: Vertical columns of soil that might be a number of cm long. Usually found in lower horizons.

Columnar: Vertical columns of soil that have a salt "cap" at the top. Found in soils of arid climates.

Platy: Thin, flat plates of soil that lie horizontally. Usually found in compacted soil.

Single Grained: Soil is broken into individual particles that do not stick together. Always accompanies a loose consistence. Commonly found in sandy soils.

Massive: Soil has no visible structure, is hard to break apart and appears in very large clods.

If you wish download the protocol above so that you can use it in the field, here are pict files soil texture page 2.

Below are some images of the different soil structures.

With Structure:

Granular		Blocky
Prismatic		Columnar
Platy

Structureless:

Single grained

single grained

Massive

massive

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Last Updated: September 17, 2001