What are the advantages and disadvantages of farming on a "clay loam"?

Question

There seems to be no information on the internet about this topic. I am in the process of writing an essay about the Upton series....help please

Answer 1

farming in clay loam can give you beautifull look but also it can give you more moisture in corner of your home

Answer 2

Advantage - high water holding capacity - less droughthy than sandier soils.

Disadvanatge - high water holding capacity - poorer natural drainage than sandier soils. Stays cooler and wetter in the in the spring, unless artificial drainage is put in.

Answer 3

Clay loam has more cation exchange capacity and has more retention of water. Advantage is that it is resistant to drought situations and provide water and nutrients to plants most effectively. Disadvantage is that many of the shallow rooted vegetable crops prone to soil born diseases are not secure until proper drainage is given. Content of Alumino phoshate mineral is more in clay soils.

Answer 4

The fact sheet for Upton soils are found at

http://www2.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/osd/dat/U/...

This series is a shallow soil, fairly well drained, unless the substrate is something like kaliche, or other impermiable material.

With adequate water (drought is frequently a problem in Terrel county), this can be a productive soil.  With a drought, then water supply may quickly become an issue.