BRAINCAKEEdaphic Factors
Edaphic factors are the properties of the soil that affect the organisms living in or on it. They are especially important for plants, which cannot move away.
Soil texture. Soil is made of mineral particles of different sizes. Sandy soils have large particles and large air spaces: they drain quickly, are well aerated and warm up fast in spring, but hold little water, and mineral ions are easily leached out. Clay soils have tiny particles: they hold water and mineral ions well but drain slowly, can become waterlogged and poorly aerated, and are heavy to dig. Loam is a mixture and is usually the most fertile.
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More in The Nature of Ecosystems
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All 39 lessons in The Nature of Ecosystems · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics