What is soil structure?

Soil structure refers to the physical arrangement of the solid soil particles (sand, clay and silt) and the pore spaces between them. The ideal soil structure for growing plants provides sufficient porosity to allow for healthy root growth and air, water and nutrient movement. Heavy foot or machine traffic that compacts soil damages its structure. Incorporating organic matter and aerating can improve soil structure.

Note: soil structure may be easily confused with soil texture. Put simply, soil structure refers to how the components of soil are arranged, while soil texture refers to what components actually make up a particular soil type. Click here to learn more about soil texture.