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Different soil types benefit a range of plants
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Dear HIW,
I’m trying to grow a small vegetable garden at home, but I’m not sure how different soil types affect plant growth. Please can you explain the contents?
Maria Lopez
Soil is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, water and air and the specific combination affects how plants grow. For example, it defines what nutrients are provided and how much water is accessible, and the structure determines the capability of the plant to anchor its roots. Some of the main soil types include clay, silty, sandy, loamy, peaty and chalky soil. Clay consists of densely packed, small soil particles that can hold onto higher volumes of water and is rich in nutrients. However, it has poor drainage and can drown plants that don’t thrive in wet conditions. Vegetables with shallow
roots, such as lettuce and green beans, can grow in clay soil.