Final answer:
A longer ribbon in soil handling indicates higher clay content, which is significant for soil texture and its capacity to support plant life. Clay's plastic qualities allow it to form ribbons due to its fine particles and colloidal nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The longer ribbon that can be formed by handling soil indicates a high content of clay. Clay particles are tiny and have a sticky, plastic quality that allows them to form into ribbons when moist and manipulated. Due to their minute size and flat, platelike structure, they can bind together when wet, creating a malleable material that can be stretched into long ribbons. This characteristic of soil is a clue about its texture and is important for understanding soil structure and suitability for various uses, such as supporting plant life. High clay content in soil also affects the soil's ability to retain water, nutrients, and support the growth of plants, due to its colloidal nature and the influence of components such as humus.
Several other factors in soil composition affect the formation of ribbons in soil, including the presence of organic matter, inorganic mineral matter, and the activity of biological factors like microorganisms and plant roots in the rhizosphere. The presence of silt, a component of clay, also contributes to plasticity and the ability to form ribbons when combined with water.