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Which of the soil types below has the highest levels of primary productivity?SiltSandLoamClay

Question

Which of the soil types below has the highest levels of primary productivity?

  • Silt
  • Sand
  • Loam
  • Clay
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Solution

The soil type that generally has the highest levels of primary productivity is loam. Here's why:

  1. Primary productivity refers to the rate at which plants and other photosynthetic organisms produce organic compounds in an ecosystem. This productivity is largely dependent on the availability of nutrients and water in the soil.

  2. Loam is a type of soil that is a balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay. It combines the beneficial properties of these three types: the fertility and moisture retention of clay, the drainage properties of sand, and the nutrient retention ability of silt.

  3. Because of its balanced nature, loam tends to have a good structure that is easily worked, and it often contains more nutrients and humus than sandy soils, drains better than clay soils, and is easier to till than silty soils. This makes it ideal for plant growth and hence, it generally has the highest levels of primary productivity.

  4. While silt, sand, and clay each have their own advantages, none of them alone can provide the ideal conditions for most plant growth that loam can. For example, clay soils are rich in nutrients but they drain poorly, which can lead to waterlogging. Sandy soils drain well but they don't retain nutrients as effectively. Silt soils are fertile but can be easily compacted, which can limit plant root growth.

  5. Therefore, while the exact levels of primary productivity can vary depending on other factors like climate, vegetation, and specific nutrient content, loam is generally the soil type with the highest levels of primary productivity.

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