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Soil is a very important part of the farmer’s work. They need to know its characteristics and know how to take good care of it in order to grow crops and succeed. It is important to know the types of soil such as friable soil and know its characteristics. So the question is what is friable soil and why is it so important for the farmers?
Friable soil is characterized by the larger clods that can easily be fragmented and by smaller soil aggregates being harder to break. It is important to mention that the more friable the soil is, the easier it is to make a good seedbed with the minimum use of energy which is the ultimate goal.
Friable soil is the type of soil that has a crumbly texture which is ideal for the underground activity that is the foundation of success with most plants such as the root growth of plants, the eating part of root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots and much more.
What Is Friable Soil?
The soil friability is the key to any success when it comes to crop growth on the farm. The input of organic matter reduced traffic, and tillage is some of the important parts for making agricultural soil easy to work with. In order to maintain good friability, it is important to treat the soil properly.
Friable soil is the type of soil characterized by the larger clods fragmenting easily and by smaller soil aggregates being harder to break. Friability of the soil refers to its crumbly texture, somewhere between sand and clay. That soil is not so fine and grainy like sand, and it’s not so thick and mushy like clay. When pressed hard, friable soil should form a lump that can be easily disintegrated.
Soil that is friable is usually rich in carbon and minerals which is a great thing for growing a variety of plants. Friable soil will also drain water very well, and retain moisture like a sponge which makes it a perfect soil for any farmer.
One must mention that poor friability occurs when the soil is either too wet or too dry. The drier the soil, the harder it becomes and thus more difficult it will be to break up the large clods. On the other hand, when the soil is too wet, the large clods become sticky and plastic and will deform rather than break.
What Is Friable Loam Soil?
Nowadays, new gardeners are taught that firable and loamy soil is great for their garden because it retains water and drains easily. Every farmer or gardener quickly learns that good soil is the most important thing for a healthy and productive garden or land.
Friable loam soil is the type of soil that is composed of almost equal amounts of sand and silt with a little less clay. Good soil means the soil has the right nutrients for feeding the plants and a texture that holds water but drains well enough that the roots are not sitting in it. Without good soil, you will be needing to compensate for the poor soil by watering and feeding your plants in order to survive.
It is important to mention that among loam’s three components: sand, silt, and clay, and the sand particles are the largest. The important thing about sand is that it provides good aeration and drainage of the soil, but it does not hold on to moisture. On the other hand, clay particles are a great material because it tends to be higher in nutrients than the other soil components.
Thanks to the balance of ingredients, friable loam soil is the ideal soil for growing plants. The loam soil is porous which allows water to flow through allowing the plants to access it. Its texture allows water to flow through slowly enough for the plants to access it, and fast enough to avoid soggy soil. Loam soil also provides room for air to mix into the soil, which is also a must when it comes to optimal plant growth. It is also good to mention that friability depends on soil type. The higher the clay content, the harder the soil will get when it dries up. It will also easily become plastic when it gets wet.
Why Is Friable Soil Important?
One of the most important things about friable soil and why is it so important is that its crumbly texture not only permits roots and other underground plant parts to thrive, it also strikes the right balance when it comes to drainage. What is so important is that friable soil retains sufficient moisture to provide plants with an evenly moist medium in which to grow, but also doesn’t becomes soggy or waterlogged which is great.
Plants that grow in friable soil are going to be much healthier, will have lush foliage, strong root systems, and will be resistant to diseases and pests. The great thing about it is that friable soil has tons of micro-organisms that will keep replenishing the fertility over time.
How To Make Friable Soil?
Turning your existing soil into friable soil is going to be an ongoing process that involves working organic matter into the soil every year. It is important to mention that it is the decomposing organic material that creates the well-draining conditions that plants need. This also attracts the beneficial organisms that will help keep the soil healthy and alive.
You can incorporate shredded leaves and finished compost into your existing soil to create rich and loamy soil as they decompose. However, one must mention that the organic matter is quickly depleted as it decomposes which is why it will need to be amended each season.
On the other hand, if your soil is extremely sandy or predominantly heavy clay, it may need large amounts of organic matter added to it several times a season. But, for most soils, laying down at least a 2-inch layer of organic matter over the soil surface and then working it into the top few inches should do it.
You can also buy soil in bulk which can be a fast and easy way to get your garden or land up and growing. This may be pricey, and there is no standard certification for soil quality, so you haven’t got any certification for soil quality. It can be helpful to obtain information about the company you are buying your soil from. It is important that you get good quality soil to improve your existing one to a whole another level.
It is important to mention that by bringing in poor soil you won’t make your existing soil better, on the contrary, you can make it worse and set you back with making your soil better than it was before. But there are many great companies that stand by their products which can help you improve the soil to a whole another level.
What Plants Grow In Friable Soil?
As I mentioned earlier in the text, friable soil is the type of soil that has a crumbly texture which is ideal for the underground activity that is the foundation of success with most plants. For example, friable soil is ideal for the root growth of plants and the uniform development of the ”eating part” of root vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. Friable soil is also great for all kinds of flowers thanks to its characteristics.
