Types of Soil

This type of soil is made of tiny pieces of rock. 

• sand
• clay
• humus
• loam

_______ is the type of soil used most often with plants and on farms. It is a mixture of clay, sand, and silt.

• loam
• humus
• soil
• dirt

Which type of soil can hold the greatest amount of water?

• sand
• silt
• clay
• loam

This type of soil is sticky when wet and hard when dry. 

• clay
• silt
• sand
• gravel

This type of soil feels gritty.

• sand

• silt

• clay

• humus

This type of soil feels like powder.

• sand

• silt

• clay

• humus

Soil is made up of three types of particles called...

• loam, humus, sand

• sand, silt, clay

• humus, topsoil, clay

• loam, topsoil, humus

Ellen grabs a topsoil sample in her hand. She rolls it into a ball. The soil feels gritty and the ball falls apart. What property of soil is Ellen testing?

• color

• texture

• ability to support plant growth

• water retention

Which type of soil is good for making pots?

• Clay

• Loam

• Sand

• Silt

What is one reason loam is the best soil for growing plants?

• It is a pretty color.

• It breaks up easily and holds moisture and nutrients.

• It can easily be dug up and moved.

• It contains a lot of air and very little water.