Soil can be classified based on different characteristics such as chemical composition, soil profile, and soil texture. Soil texture is best defined as the percent composition of sand, silt, and clay in a soil type. Loam soil has the equal proportion of these three and is considered as the best soil to grow plant.
SANDY LOAM SOIL
"According to past studies, tomato plant grow best in soil that is evenly moist and has a well-drainage system."
Since sandy loam soil is a mixture of both sand and loam, the spaces between the particles of the soil are relatively small. This provides an effective water holding capacity because the water will not easily go down through the soil and out of the reach of the roots, which will make it more fertile and prevent the soil from drying out. Therefore, the water will stay longer on the soil and help the roots absorb and effectively utilize it. The water will then be distributed to different parts of the plant, particularly on the stem and leaves.
LOAM SOIL
"Loam soil is considered as the most fertile type of soil because it has a mixture of sandy, clay and silt."
It is also a good type of soil to grow tomato plant because it can improve water retention and has a well-drainage system. However, tomato plant need its soil, particularly its upper layer, to be permeable. This is what loam soil lacks. Since loam soil has a relatively high composition of sand and silt, they usually have low permeability. Even though it can retain water longer, it cannot easily pass through the soil hence, affecting the growth of both stem and leaves. This could account to the difference between the growth responses of tomato plant grown in loam and sandy loam soil.
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