Which of the following option determines percolation and water holding capacity of soils?

This question was previously asked in
CUET Biology 23rd Aug 2022 Official Paper
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  1. Climate
  2. Grain size, soil composition and aggregation
  3. Weathering process
  4. Soil development

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : Grain size, soil composition and aggregation
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Key Points

  • Soil is an important abiotic component of an ecosystem.
  • The nature or properties of soil may vary from one habitat to another.
  • This variation may be caused due to the developmental conditions, like the climate and weathering process, under which the soil is formed.
  • However, percolation and water holding capacity are two properties, which are specifically determined by the grain size, soil composition and aggregation.

Explanation:

  • Soil is composed of soil particles that are of different types depending on their sizes.
  • The different proportions of these soil particles give different textures to the soil.
  • Depending on the texture, there are 3 primary types of soil -  
    • Sand - are the largest particles.
    • Silt - are intermediate in size.
    • Clay - are the smallest particles.
  • Percolation - refers to the movement of water in the soil.

\(Percolation \space Rate \space = \space {Amount \space of \space Water \over Percolation \space Time}\)

  • Sandy soil, having larger particles, have large air spaces in between soil particles and hence have a high percolation rate.
  • On the other hand, soil with high clay and silt particles will have the highest water holding capacity.

Hence, the correct answer is option 2.

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