zandig

Zandig is a Dutch adjective meaning sandy. It is used to describe soils, soil textures, and landscapes that contain a high proportion of sand. The word derives from zand (sand) with the suffix -ig, parallel to the English sandy.

In soil science and agronomy, zandig is used to classify soil texture and to qualify combinations such as zandige leem (sandy loam) or zandige klei (sandy clay). A zandig soil typically has high drainage, rapid infiltration, low water-holding capacity, and variable nutrient retention, which influences crop choice, management practices, and irrigation.

Geographically, zandige soils are common in dune and coastal regions, river terraces with coarse sediments, and some sandy plateaus. In the Netherlands, for example, coastal dunes and riverine sands form extensive zandige landscapes that are differently managed for agriculture, forestry, and nature conservation.

In soil surveys, the descriptor zandig is used alongside other texture descriptors to convey texture class rather than a fixed threshold, recognizing that texture also depends on context and measurement method (such as particle-size distribution using sieve and hydrometer methods).

In everyday language, zandig can describe anything with a sandy texture, feel, or appearance, from soil to construction substrates, to landscapes and soils under restoration. The term is integrated into Dutch technical vocabularies for soil science and land management and is understood across Dutch-language contexts.