The percentage of soil volume occupied by pore spaces is called porosity of soil . It is minimum in

Options

A. sandy soil
B. clay soil
C. loamy soil
D. slit

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Porosity**: Porosity refers to the percentage of soil volume that is occupied by pore spaces, which are the gaps between soil particles. These pore spaces can be filled with air or water.

2. **Identifying Soil Types**: The question asks which type of soil has the minimum porosity. The common types of soil to consider are sandy soil, clay soil, loamy soil, and silt soil.

3. **Analyzing Sandy Soil**: Sandy soil has a high concentration of sand particles. This means that the gaps or pores between the particles are relatively small and fewer in number. As a result, sandy soil has low porosity, typically ranging from 0.36 to 0.43.

4. **Analyzing Clay Soil**: Clay soil consists of very fine particles that are tightly packed together. This results in a high porosity because the small gaps can hold more water, but it is also less permeable. Clay soil has maximum porosity compared to other soil types.

5. **Analyzing Loamy Soil**: Loamy soil is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay. It has a balanced structure that allows for good drainage and retention of moisture, resulting in a porosity range of 0.66 to 0.68, which is higher than sandy soil.

6. **Analyzing Silt Soil**: Silt soil has fine particles that create small pores, leading to a porosity range of 0.78 to 0.79. This indicates that silt soil has higher porosity than sandy soil.

7. **Conclusion**: After analyzing the different types of soil, it is clear that sandy soil has the minimum porosity among the options provided. Therefore, the answer to the question is sandy soil.

**Final Answer**: The percentage of soil volume occupied by pore spaces is minimum in sandy soil.

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