Residual Soil Vs Transported Soil: What Is The Difference?

When you have a farm, it’s important to understand the difference between residual soil and transported soil. Just as you need to know the properties of clay vs sand, alkaline vs acidic soil, it is also important to understand how soil can be affected by the climate and the weather. Here’s what you need to know. 

What is Residual Soil?

what is a residual soil

Residual soil is the product of chemical weathering. Its characteristics depend heavily on environmental factors such as the age of the soil, drainage, topography, climate, and the parent material that went into the creation of the soil. 

Residual soils occur naturally and are developed from existing material. Usually, they occur when a “parent rock” is weathered over time. The rate at which a soil is weathered depends on a variety of factors, including the climate, soil type, length of exposure, and properties of the parent rock. 

You’ll find residual soil all over the world, including Africa, Australia, South America, South Asia, and certain portions of Central America, North America (though generally only in the southeast) and Europe. 

These types of soils differ from each other based on the topography of the region along with the climatic patterns and vegetable cover. The composition of the parent rock doesn’t after much. 

Residual soils tend to have a mineralogical composition that is very close to the original bedrock and soil grains that are sharp and irregularly-shaped. Rarely are they round. The soil often contains fragments of the parent rock and its thickness varies depending on the extent of the weathering along with the climate, age, and topography.

What is a Transported Soil?

what is a transported soil

Transported soil, on the other hand, is soil that has been weathered just like residual soil. However, it was transported to a new location by a natural agent like the wind, water, or something else. 

Transported soil is a weathered solid deposit that was transported from one place to another by a natural agent like wind, water, or glaciers. It can also be transported by two or more of these agents at once.

There are several key types of transported soils to be aware of – gravity deposited soils, water transported soils, glacier deposited soils, and wind transported soils. Understanding how soil was transported is vital when it comes to knowing its chemical composition and how fertile it might be. 

Water

Soil that is carried by water is known as an alluvial deposit. When these deposits are made in a lake, they’re named lacustrine deposits, while in the ocean, they are referred to as marine transported soils. 

This is one of the most common ways that soil is transported. Soil particles can be transported by rolling or suspension, with coarse particles being deposited as the velocity of the water decreases. 

Wind

The wind is another common vector for soil transportation. When soil particles are transported by the wind, this is done by a process known as aeolian depositing. 

The size and other characteristics of the particle transported, as is the case with water, depend on the velocity, speed, and direction of the wind. Some extremely large dunes can be created as the result of wind transportation.

Glaciers

Glaciers can carry massive quantities of soil and even boulders as they move. The soil can also be transported large distances.

When soil is made by the movement of a glacier, it is referred to as a drift. Soils that are made by the melting of glaciers are referred to as till. 

There is one other type of deposit that can be made by a glacier, and that is a glaciofluvial deposit. These are created by melting water and are often stratified. They are extremely strong. 

Gravity 

Some soils can be transported by the sheer influence of gravity alone. Often, this movement is a small distance with soils rolling downhill until they get to their final resting place. 

Colluvial soil that is transported by gravity is named talus, often consisting of coarse-grained soil particles and bits of rocks. These soils tend to be in high demand for engineering operations.

If you’re reading this article from an engineer’s perspective (or just want to get a better idea of the difference between residual and transported soils), be sure to take a look at this helpful video:

How is Transported Soil Different From Residual Soil?

The biggest difference between residual soil and transported soil is that transported soil, by its very definition, has to go somewhere. It is somehow moved away from the original location and the original rock from which it was created. Residual soil, on the other hand, stays more or less in the same place.

Because of this, residual soil tends to possess the same characteristics as the parent rock.

While transported soil, like residual soil, can also consist of weathered bits of rock, it has to have been moved by one or more agents. 

Transported soil is usually broken into minuscule pieces and the soil tends to be extremely fertile, since it contains a variety of minerals from multiple transported rocks all in one place.

Examples of Residual and Transported Soil

An easy way to differentiate between residual and transported soil is to take a look at some samples.

Residual soil, again, is the product of weathering with the original rock still present to some extent. These soils are usually found in the same general vicinity as the parent rock. A common example is bentonite. This chemically weathered volcanic ash is still found on the parent rock. 

Andosol is another example. This, too, develops over volcanic ash and rocky regions. It is rich in metastable halloysite and allophane. Montmorillonite expansive black clay is another kind of residual soil, but this one occurs in poorly drained areas. 

Why This Matters

If you have a farm, it’s important to know the difference between residual and transported soil. This will help you fully understand what sorts of properties your soil contains, making it easier for you to identify ideal growing sites and places to raise your livestock.

Transported soils tend to be high in vital minerals, since they often contain particles from multiple areas and types of rock. Which minerals your soil has can vary, however, since no two samples of transported soil are exactly alike.

That’s not to say that residual soil isn’t fertile, though – it all depends on the exact composition of the soil you’re dealing with in a given location. 

Consider the key attributes of both types of soil as you plan out your farm landscape design and best uses for the soil you already have moving forward. 

Frequently Asked Questions

residual soil vs transported soil Frequently Asked Questions

How does good soil support vibrant plant growth?

Good soil provides actual, physical support for plants’ roots while also delivering water, oxygen and nutrients to plants’ roots in an efficient and effective manner.

How does good soil anchor plants‘ roots, and why is this essential?

Good soil, in ideal condition, stabilizes plants by supporting their root systems and allowing room for root growth in every direction. This provides a solid base to help plants withstand challenges such as foot traffic, inclement weather and browsing by deer and other herbivorous mammals.

How do plants use oxygen in the soil?

Good soil has space between its particles that allow for air circulation. This provides oxygen to root cells so that they can break down sugars and release necessary energy. This combination adds up to healthy plant growth.

How do plants use water in the soil?

Good soil allows water to circulate around plant roots. Water cools the soil and keeps plants’ roots cool through evaporation. Water also carries essential nutrients, helps plant roots maintain cell size, and serves as a raw material for photosynthesis.

Is it important for the temperature of the soil to maintain a steady temperature?

Yes, plant roots should be insulated against extreme temperature fluctuations. Excessive heat or cold can stress a plant and cause stunted growth or even death. Good soil provides proper insulation against temperature extremes. A layer of organic mulch on the surface of the soil is also very helpful in keeping plants’ roots the right temperature.

How important is soil texture?

Soil texture, which is determined by the relative amounts of sand, silt, and clay in the soil makeup, impacts aeration, drainage, and water-holding capacity. All of these factors are important considerations in plant growth. You may hear soil texture referred to as sandy, silty, loamy and/or clayey.

Is soil structure the same as soil texture?

Soil structure is the term used to refer to the size and shape of soil particles. Whereas soil texture impacts air and water circulation and drainage, soil structure impacts these factors and the ability of plant roots to grow freely and establish themselves in the soil. You may hear soil structure referred to as blocky, platy or granular. Blocky soil particles have a mixture of rounded and sharp edges. Platy soil particles are flattened. Granular soil particles are small and rounded.

Why is the right amount of pore space in soil important to overall plant health?

Pore space, the space between soil particles, fills with water and/or air to provide a balance of these essential elements. Proper balance of air, water and nutrients, supports optimum root penetration, drainage nourishment to plants.

Why is organic matter in soil so important, and what can you do to replenish it for the best plant growth?

Organic matter in soil improves its structure, along with water retention, and nutrient availability. You can be sure your soil has plenty of organic matter by adding compost, manure and crop residues. Planting a cover crop (aka: green manure) during the off-season is also very helpful.

Do you have to pay attention to factors such as pH levels and positive ion (cation) exchange capacity in order to create healthy soil for plants?

Yes, these factors are important because soil pH levels affect the availability of nutrients. If your soil is too acidic or too alkaline, your plants may not be able to access the nutrients you provide. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) affects the ability of the soil to hold and exchange positive ions. This, too, impacts plants’ ability to make use of nutrients in the soil.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Farm & Animals

6043 S Drexel Ave
Chicago, IL 60637

Amazon Disclaimer

Farm & Animals is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Disclaimer

Farm & Animals do not intend to provide veterinary advice. We try to help farmers better understand their animals; however, the content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. For more information, please read our PRIVACY POLICY.