About Soil Texture
Texture refers to the size of the soil particles. Most types of soil are a mixture of different soil particles. Soil textures are classified by the fractions of each soil separate (sand, silt, and clay) present in a soil. Sandy soils have very large particles, and air and plant roots can move freely in this type of soil. At the other end of the spectrum is clay; its particles are so small they pack together tightly and leave little room for water, air or roots. Sandy soils were called ‘light’ because they were easy to till. Silt and clay soils were called ‘heavy’ because of the extra energy required to till them. Both sandy soils and clay soils are a challenge for gardeners. Loam soils have the ideal mixture of different size soil particles. The word loam is used to indicate that the properties of all three size classes are equally evident in the soil.Soil texture influences plant growth by its direct effect on soil aeration, water infiltration, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and erode ability. The accurate determination of soil texture is measured in the laboratory.
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