Soil texture – The soil composition, the amount of small particles of clay, medium-sized particles of silt, and large particles of sand. The dominating particle size gives soil its key characteristics and defines its texture.

Sandy Soil

Sand has the largest particles. Gritty can feel sand grains within it and remains loose when dry.

Sandy soils allow water to flow through easily, often nutrients are washed away as well. Struggles to hold onto water and nutrients which will be easily leached along with its free-draining characteristic. 

Sandy soil is light soil and warms up quickly because of the large particle gaps which fill with warm air.

• Free draining
• Dry
• Warm
• Can be acidic
• Lower nutrient-holding capacity
• Light

NO CEC (Cation exchange capacity)

No Flocculation

Clay Soil

Clay consists of the tiniest particles, these tiny spaces between the particles give it the ability to retain nutrients and retain water really well.

Clay is a heavy cold soil as it doesn’t have the space between it takes longer to warm up and has characteristic stickiness.

Clay soils can easily be compacted while wet if walked on and then baked hard in sunshine often with noticeable cracking.

• Rich in nutrients
• Water retentive
• Slow draining
• Easily Compacted
• Heavy
• Pan / Panning

High CEC (Cation exchange capacity)

Flocculation

Dry clay forms hard, compact clumps which are difficult to break. Clay tends to stick to itself as well as other things and can be molded into shapes and remain that way.

Prone to forming a hard cap, pan or crust after heavy rainfall, very compact soils known as “pans”. The clay particles are so close together they stop water or roots from penetrating into it.

Silt Soil

Silt consists of intermediate-sized particle size between sand and clay.

The air spaces are more restricted than in sandy soils. Easy to cultivate and higher fertility and smoother to the touch. Greasy feeling when wet

• Fertile
• fairly well draining
• Easily compacted
• Crust / Capping

Some CEC (Cation exchange capacity)

More free draining than clay

Holds more water than sand

Clod of dried silt will crumble and break down between your fingers when pressed.

Silt solid can be prone to forming a cap or crust over the surface after heavy rainfall.

Loam

Comprises of a mixture of the three soil types, clay, sand and silt.

Soils can be ameliorated or improved by adding Organic matter to make better soil conditions.

For example, increase air between particles in wet soils to aid drainage or decrease air in dry sandy soils to improve water retention.