What Soil Types Are in Nebraska?

The state of Nebraska consists of mountains, prairies and rolling hills. The type of soil found varies between sand, silt and clay, depending on the area. Some areas contain a mixture of clay and sandy soils. Some soils are more difficult to work with than others, but gardeners and farmers continually work with the soil by adding fertilizer or cow manure in addition to tilling the ground to improve soil fertility.

Sandy soils are loaded with minerals and easy to work with. Sand is easy to drain, which is beneficial for most plants, but too much drainage can lead to dehydration. You can avoid dehydration by working with the soil to add other properties to find the right balance. Well-drained soil is ideal, but too much drainage causes plants to become too dry at the roots. Sandy soils often contain granite, limestone, quartz and other minerals.

Clay and clay-like soils are very dense and thick, which presents farmers with some challenges. Clay is rock hard when dry but very sticky when wet. Because of the soil's thickness, farmers are often faced with drainage problems. However, some clay soils contain a balanced ratio of clay and sand, which helps with drainage. Plants can still grow in clay-like soils if you work with the soil and spread out the clay. Too much tightly packed clay in one area will cause water to pool in one place, causing plants to die of dehydration.

Silty soil is one of the most fertile types of soil. This soil has a high level of minerals and other nutrients, including quartz. Silt soils are more nutrient dense than sandy soils. This type of soil is very balanced because it's easy to drain and holds moisture well. Silty soil resembles dark sand and has a smooth satin-like texture.