Identifying soil structural problems in the field problems structural Identifying soil thinksoils Identifying soil structural problems in the field Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field 55 Identifying soil structural problems in the field problems structural Identifying soil 56 Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil sandy and light silty soils silty and light sandy sandy and light silty soils sandy and light silty soils Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / sandy and light silty soils 57 Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the topsoil and cultivated layer good structure sandy and light silty soils / the soil surface / the soil soils silty and light sandy The soil surface is locally slaked Partly slaked surface Sandy loam High risk to slaking, runoff and erosion. Early drilling of cereals in September with good crop cover has helped to protect the soil surface. 58 Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / sandy and light silty soils / the soil surface Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the soil surface poor structure Evidence of runoff Smooth soil surface that is and soil movement sealed, preventing rapid infiltration of rain water sandy and light silty soils / the soil surface / the soil soils silty and light sandy Slaked surface. Dispersed soil particles have filled pores with fine sand and silt, forming a cap Sandy loam Lack of crop cover and a fine tilth has exacerbated the slaking process. These soils are naturally unstable due to their low clay and organic matter content. Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / sandy and light silty soils / the soil surface 59 Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil good structure Very fine (<5mm) and fine Good rooting (5-10mm) subangular blocks sandy and light silty soils / the topsoil soils silty and light sandy Abundant pores allowing good drainage and aeration Sandy loam Drilling of cereals at optimum soil moisture has ensured a good soil structure. Abundant roots help to stabilise the soil aggregates. 60 Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / sandy and light silty soils / the topsoil Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the topsoil and cultivated layer poor structure Very coarse (>10mm) plates High packing density sandy and light silty soils / the topsoil soils silty and light sandy Grey colouring indicating poor Firm soil strength drainage and lack of oxygen Sandy loam Heavy traffic during harvesting of potatoes has compressed the soil. Cultivation is needed to remove the compaction. Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / sandy and light silty soils / the topsoil 61 Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the subsoil good structure Weakly developed coarse Low packing density. (20-50mm ) subangular Soil is very porous and angular blocks at with good root growth base of the cultivation layer sandy and light silty soils / the subsoil soils silty and light sandy Massive soil structure at depth with medium packing density Friable soil strength Sandy loam The low clay and organic matter content in the subsoil has resulted in natural slumping, producing a poor soil structure. However, the subsoil has many pores allowing good root growth. Absence of mottles indicates a free draining subsoil. 62 Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / sandy and light silty soils / the subsoil Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the subsoil poor structure sandy and light silty soils / the subsoil soils silty and light sandy High packing density that is slightly porous Massive soil Very firm soil strength with few roots Sandy loam Compression of the wet soil by traffic and cultivation has produced a high packing density. Drainage and root growth are affected by the reduced porosity. Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / sandy and light silty soils / the subsoil 63 Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil sandy and light silty soils soils silty and light sandy 64 Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / sandy and light silty soils Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil medium soils medium soils medium soils Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / medium soils 65 Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the soil surface good structure medium soils / the soil surface / the soil medium soils No evidence of runoff Stable clods Clay loam The clay content is sufficiently high to give some stability to the soil aggregates, preventing capping of the surface. 66 Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / medium soils / the soil surface Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the soil surface poor structure medium soils / the soil surface / the soil medium soils Slaked soil Evidence of ponding forming a cap and runoff on slopes Clay loam Harvesting of maize has compressed the soil surface causing ponding of rainwater. This has subsequently caused the surface to slake and cap. Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / medium soils / the soil surface 67 Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the topsoil and cultivated layer good structure Strongly developed soil structure medium soils / the topsoil medium soils Fine (1-2mm) and medium Abundant fissures allowing good (2-5mm) granular peds drainage, aeration and rooting Clay loam Soil beneath a hedge, with a high organic matter content and soil biodiversity. 68 Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / medium soils / the topsoil Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the topsoil and cultivated layer poor structure Massive soil High packing density medium soils / the topsoil medium soils Coarse (5-10mm) plates Clay loam Compression of the soil has produced a high packing density and slight porosity. Cultivation of the soil when the soil is suitably dry will help to remove compaction. Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / medium soils / the topsoil 69 Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the subsoil good structure Strongly developed soil structure medium soils / the subsoil medium soils Friable soil with low Medium (10-20mm) packing density that subangular blocks Good rooting is very porous. Clay loam over clay Grey and reddish mottle colours in the clay subsoil indicate waterlogging for part of the year. When wet, the subsoil is at high risk of compaction from traffic. 70 Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / medium soils / the subsoil Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the subsoil poor structure Massive soil Very firm soil strength and high packing density that is slightly porous medium soils / the subsoil medium soils Mottling indicates a seasonally Few roots waterlogged subsoil Clay loam The clay subsoil has been compressed by traffic and cultivation when the soil has been wet and plastic. Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / medium soils / the subsoil 71 Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil medium soils / the subsoil medium soils 72 Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / medium soils Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil heavy soils heavy heavy soils heavy soils Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / heavy soils 73 Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the soil surface good structure heavy soils / the soil surface / the soil soils heavy Partly slaked soil No evidence of runoff Clay The soil in this field is naturally acidic and is not as stable as calcareous clay soil. 74 Environment Agency thinksoils identifying soil structural problems in the field / heavy soils / the soil surface Identifying soil structural problems in the field in the field problems structural Identifying soil soil structure / the soil surface poor structure heavy soils / the