4.1 Types of soil
The continental glaciers of the last Ice Age transported away almost all of the loose soil that had previously been on top of the Finnish bedrock. This is why the Finnish soil is very thin, being only about 3-4 meters deep on avereage.
On the other hand, the Finnish soil covers the bedrock almost completely. Only a small percentage of the nation's surface area consists of bare rock.
Like types of rock, types of soil can also be divided into two groups depending on how they have formed. The two groups are mineral soil types and organic soil types.
Mineral soil types consist of small pieces of rock. Gravel, sand and clay are all mineral soil types.
Mineral soil types have formed when rock has weathered and been ground into smaller particles. In areas affected by the ice ages, this has often occurred as a result of glacial movement. Mineral soil types can be divided into different groups depending on their particle size, with gravel being the most coarse and clay being the finest.
Sand and gravel can be found in great amounts in eskers and terminal moraine ridges, whereas clay is a type of mineral soil more typical to lowland areas, such as Southern Finland and Ostrobothnia. The most common Finnish soil type is till, which has formed as the result of glacial movements that have ground and mixed different materials together. Till is a mixture of sand and clay. Fine till can be used for agriculture, whereas coarser till often accommodates forest growth.
Organic soil types have formed when organic matter, such as plant parts and animal remains, has decomposed and compressed into layers. Organic soil types often contain small amounts of mineral soil types, as well. Most of the Finnish organic soil types have formed only after the last Ice Age. The most common soil type in Finnish coniferous forests is thick mor. Organic soil types, such as clay soil, are rich in nutrients and therefore useful for agricultural use. Finnish agricultural soil is usally a mixture of clay and organic matter. Bogs consist of wet peat, whereas the bottoms of Finnish bodies of water often consist of silt or mud.
Organic soil types are rich in nutrient, which makes them useful for agriculture.
On the other hand, the Finnish soil covers the bedrock almost completely. Only a small percentage of the nation's surface area consists of bare rock.
Like types of rock, types of soil can also be divided into two groups depending on how they have formed. The two groups are mineral soil types and organic soil types.
Mineral soil types consist of small pieces of rock. Gravel, sand and clay are all mineral soil types.
Mineral soil types have formed when rock has weathered and been ground into smaller particles. In areas affected by the ice ages, this has often occurred as a result of glacial movement. Mineral soil types can be divided into different groups depending on their particle size, with gravel being the most coarse and clay being the finest.
Sand and gravel can be found in great amounts in eskers and terminal moraine ridges, whereas clay is a type of mineral soil more typical to lowland areas, such as Southern Finland and Ostrobothnia. The most common Finnish soil type is till, which has formed as the result of glacial movements that have ground and mixed different materials together. Till is a mixture of sand and clay. Fine till can be used for agriculture, whereas coarser till often accommodates forest growth.
Organic soil types have formed when organic matter, such as plant parts and animal remains, has decomposed and compressed into layers. Organic soil types often contain small amounts of mineral soil types, as well. Most of the Finnish organic soil types have formed only after the last Ice Age. The most common soil type in Finnish coniferous forests is thick mor. Organic soil types, such as clay soil, are rich in nutrients and therefore useful for agricultural use. Finnish agricultural soil is usally a mixture of clay and organic matter. Bogs consist of wet peat, whereas the bottoms of Finnish bodies of water often consist of silt or mud.
Organic soil types are rich in nutrient, which makes them useful for agriculture.