Jordtypes

Jordtypes is a term used in soil science to describe the major categories of soil based on their physical and chemical properties. The concept is used in agriculture, horticulture, and environmental planning to summarize how soils behave and what they are best suited for.

Key criteria include texture (the relative amounts of sand, silt, and clay), structure (how soil aggregates hold together), depth to bedrock, drainage, fertility, organic matter content, and pH. Soil formation factors—climate, organisms, parent material, topography, and time—shape these properties and cause regional variation in jordtypes.

Common soil categories encompass sandy soils, loamy soils, and clayey soils, as well as specialized types such as peat, calcareous, saline, and rocky soils. In many regions jordtypes are mapped to guide land use, crop selection, and management. The classification helps predict water availability, nutrient mobility, and physical constraints for roots.

Management practices are guided by jordtype: water management for poorly draining clays, drainage and irrigation planning for permeable sands, liming to adjust acidity, and additions of organic matter to improve structure and fertility. Crops and cultivars are chosen to match soil characteristics and local climate.

Assessment methods combine field observation with laboratory analyses, including particle-size distribution, texture tests, pH and buffering capacity, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, and nutrient tests. Modern mapping often uses geographic information systems to produce jordtype maps for planning and decision making.