Glossary:Soil Strength

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Soil Strength
The soil strength gives a measure of the capacity of a soil mass to withstand stresses without giving way to rupture, fragmentation or flow. If a soil is too weak, it will be unable to adequately anchor the plant, as well as not being able to withstand the forces of wind and water. If a soil is too strong, plant roots, as well as organisms such as earthworms, will not have the required strength to penetrate the soil. The failure of a soil to withstand gravitational forces can be seen when a structure settles as its weight exceeds the soil's bearing strength, when unstable roads and hillslopes slide downhill, and when earthen dams give way under the pressure of impounded water.