hardpans
Dense soil layers
Hardpans are dense, compacted layers of soil that water and roots cannot easily penetrate.
They form naturally through mineral accumulation or artificially through repeated plowing at the same depth.
Farmers and gardeners must break through hardpans to improve drainage and allow deeper root growth: The backhoe hit hardpan about three feet down.
Dense impermeable soil layer
- calicheMineral-ceite hardened soil layer
- subsoilEarth layer below surface
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
- B horizonMineral accumulation soil layer
pedology · soil science · soil structure · soil conservation
Absence of moisture
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- desertTo leave behind completely
- evaporationLiquid turning to gas
- calicheMineral-ceite hardened soil layer
playa · saline · barrenness · desolation · dustiness · outback · hardscrabble
Mineral-binding of particles
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
- consolidationCombining into unified whole
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- concretionAccumulated solid mass
hardening · calcium carbite · silica · iron oxides · calcium carbonate · evaporite · calcification · induration
Cannot be penetrated
- denseClosely packed together
- imperviousUnable to be affected
- nonporousLacking absorbent openings
- resistantWithstanding external forces
solid · firmness · stiffness · cohesion · water table · runoff · ponding · waterlogging
Soil preparation for planting
- cultivationFostering growth through care
- crop yieldAgricultural production amount
- fertilityCapacity for reproduction
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
soil amendment · permeability · waterlogging · aeration · organic matter · land management · arable · earthworms
claypan
Dense impermeable soil layer
- calicheMineral-ceite hardened soil layer
- subsoilEarth layer below surface
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
B horizon · pedology · soil science · soil structure · soil conservation
aridity
Absence of moisture
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- desertTo leave behind completely
- evaporationLiquid turning to gas
caliche · playa · saline · barrenness · desolation · dustiness · outback · hardscrabble
cementation
Mineral-binding of particles
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
- consolidationCombining into unified whole
- compressionForcing into smaller space
concretion · hardening · calcium carbite · silica · iron oxides · calcium carbonate · evaporite · calcification · induration
impermeable
Cannot be penetrated
- denseClosely packed together
- imperviousUnable to be affected
- nonporousLacking absorbent openings
resistant · solid · firmness · stiffness · cohesion · water table · runoff · ponding · waterlogging
tillage
Soil preparation for planting
- cultivationFostering growth through care
- crop yieldAgricultural production amount
- fertilityCapacity for reproduction
irrigation · soil amendment · permeability · waterlogging · aeration · organic matter · land management · arable · earthworms
hardpansloose soil
Uncompacted ground material
sandy loam · sandy soil · soft soil · gravel
hardpanstopsoil
Nutrient-rich surface earth
loam · humus · compost · black earth · garden soil