Soils and layers
Clay
Heavy, sticky soil that holds water hard. Use a little at most.
What the simulation uses
- Holds water
- 45 % by volume
- Water it keeps after draining; the rest runs down to the drainage.
- Pore space
- 50 % by volume
- Room for air and water between grains; low means roots suffocate when wet.
- Weight
- 950 g/L
- How heavy a litre is.
- pH
- 5 to 8 pH
- How acid it keeps the soil.
- Mould risk
- low
- How much fresh food it gives white mould; high-risk soils fuzz over in the first weeks.
- Nutrients
- medium
- Plant food it brings.
- Presses down to
- 72 % of its loose depth
- How far pressing can pack it, keeping its weight.
Description
These ultra-fine particles turn sticky when wet and cling to water and nutrients, leaving almost no room for air. A deep layer waterlogs and rots roots. Keep it to backgrounds or a small share of a mix.
Also called modelling clay substrate, clay soil.
Estimated, where sources were thin: mineral-specific CEC (kaolinite ~3-15 vs smectite 80-150) not on fetched page; AFP estimated.