Physical clay
It represents the total sum of all soil particles smaller than 0.01 millimeters, which determine the soil's mechanical composition and its ability to retain water and nutrients.
Также говорят: soil particles < 0.01 mm, clay-silt fraction, soil texture fraction
Understanding physical clay content is essential for professional soil management, as it dictates the physical behavior of the field under different environmental conditions.
Farmers and agronomists use this data to determine irrigation schedules and fertilization strategies. Soils high in physical clay tend to have higher cation exchange capacity, meaning they hold fertilizers effectively, but they require careful tillage to prevent compaction.
A common error is applying heavy machinery when soil moisture is too high, which leads to soil crusting and decreased aeration, negatively affecting crop yields.