Hlinitý

Hlinitý is an adjective used in Czech to describe materials or soils that are dominated by clay minerals and have a fine texture. It is common in geology, pedology (soil science) and construction reporting to indicate texture and related properties. In soil descriptions, hlinitý indicates a higher clay content than sandy soils and is often contrasted with jílovitý (more distinctly clayey) or písčitý (sandy).

Physically, hlinitý soils tend to be plastic and cohesive when wet, and hard or compact when dry. They usually exhibit low permeability and high water-holding capacity, which can lead to slow drainage and waterlogging in wet periods. A characteristic behavior is shrink–swell: volume changes with moisture fluctuations, which can affect foundations, pavements and crop rooting.

Mineralogically, the clay fraction responsible for the hlinitý character includes common clay minerals such as kaolinite, illite and smectite. These minerals influence the soil’s plasticity, strength, nutrient-holding capacity (cation exchange) and reactions with water and organic matter.

Formation and occurrence vary, but hlinitý textures arise from weathering of silicate minerals and the accumulation of fine clay particles in quiet water environments or soil profiles. Such soils are widespread in temperate regions and can be found in floodplains, glacial deposits and old, weathered landscapes.

Engineering and agricultural implications are notable: hlinitý soils can require careful foundation design, potential drainage improvements, and management practices (organic matter, cultivation strategies) to maintain structure and fertility. In translation, the equivalent English term is clayey or clay-rich.