Plants generally do not thrive in topsoil composed only of clay because such soil tends to

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Clay soil has small and tightly packed particles that do not allow water to move freely through the soil, leading to poor drainage and water retention. It also has a high cation exchange capacity, which means that mineral nutrients are held tightly and are not easily available for plant uptake. Therefore, plants cannot thrive well in topsoil composed only of clay because it retains too much water and holds minerals too tightly, making it difficult for plants to access water and nutrients.

Plants Generally Do Not Thrive in Topsoil Composed Only of Clay