Soil colour

• Types of Colour


  • Homogeneous Colour(single dominant colour)
  • Heterogeneous Colour (mixture of different colours)
• Different Colours that form part of soil

  • Red
  • Yellow
  • Light
  • Dark
  • Mottled or Grey
• Well drained soil


  • Does not result in water logged
• Well Aerated soil


  • Has enough soil pores for air to pass through
• Very fertile soil


  • Has enough organic matter
• Soil with High % of organic matter


  • Very fertile (suitable for most crops )
  • Emit and absorb more heat
• Red

  1. Rich in iron
  2. well drained
  3. Well aerated
  4. very fertile
• Yellow

  1. waterlogged
  2. shortage of oxygen
  3. iron undergo chemical changes
• Light

  1. is found in sandy soil from sand stone
  2. low percentage of organic mater
  3. emit and absorb less heat
  4. Little iron
  5. highly leached
• dark colour

  1. High percentage of organic matter
  2. very fertile
  3. emit and absorb more heat
• Grey soil


  Less iron oxide (less oxidation)

  waterlogging

  poor drainage
• Results of waterlogging


  • Poor drainage
• Factors determining soil colour

  • Presence of water
  • Organic matter content of soil
  • Soil aeration
  • Drainage
  • Water holding capacity
• Homogeneous soil colour


  Soil sample displays a single and uniform colour
• Homogeneous soil colour


  • Iron oxide occurring on sand resulting in a homogenous red colour
• Non-homogeneous soil colour


  Mixture of colours, may appear homogeneous from a distance but different when closely analysed
• Non-homogeneous soil colour


  • Mottled soil with a mixture of yellow and orange-brown colours with some grey spots
• Mottling


  Easy to be seen when the soil is wet and fade away when dry