Color

• Subsoil is lighter in color because it contains a lower amount of humus or organic material than topsoil.
  
  

Structure

• Unlike topsoil, subsoil is packed tightly and has less space to retain water or air.
  
  

Gardening

• Though subsoil can contain some plant food in the form of minerals, it generally is not a good medium for gardening or growing crops.
  
  

Utilization

• Subsoil is used by bringing up a little to mix with topsoil and improving the overall quality of this top layer with the addition of soil-enriching materials.
  
  

Advantages

• Water drainage in the soil relies on the subsoil. Sandy subsoil allows good drainage, while a subsoil heavy in clay prevents drainage.