Soil texture describes the proportion of three sizes of soil particles and the fineness or coarseness of a soil. It is also one of the most important factors in determining crop yields. Soil texture is classified based on the percentage of sand, silt and clay in the soil. Soil Texture and Soil Structure. Soil texture refers to the relative percentage of sand, silt and clay in a soil. Agronomy 105 Soil & Water: Basic Soil Properties 5 Soil Texture •Relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay in the soil •These proportions affect how soil feels to the touch, thus the term “texture” •Sand are the largest particles feel “gritty” •Silt are medium sized feel soft, silky or “floury” There is a big difference in the size of the different particles. Soil experts at the cutting edge say that 90% or more of the function of the soil comes from biology. Soil texture and its clay content influence the amount of air in the soil and its water-holding capacity. Soil texture may be determined in one of two ways. Soil texture is an important soil characteristic that influences many aspects of soil quality. Evaluation of a good soil depends on what is being done with it and where it is located. Happily organic matter is an effective way to help deal with problems with texture. The texture of soil is considered to be a stable property. Soil texture influences soil physical and chemical properties like water holding capacity, nutrient retention, nutrient fixation, nutrient availability, drainage, strength, compressibility and thermal regime. “Texture determines all kinds of things like drainage, aeration, the amount of water the soil can hold, erosion potential and even the amount of nutrients that can be stored.” "The texture of a soil is its proportion of sand, silt and clay," said James Cassidy, a soils instructor at Oregon State University. Organic matter holds nutrients very well. moisture retention.e.g black soil is highly water retentive 2 . Soil Texture or Soil Biology. Soil texture and agricultural contaminants. Once tested, the textural class of the soil can be Texture is an important soil characteristic because it will partly determine water intake rates (absorption), water storage in the soil, and the ease of tillage operation, aeration status etc. Natural soils are comprised of soil particles of varying sizes. Soil texture class is a result commonly reported by soil testing labs and displayed on soils maps. Texture is an important soil characteristic because it will partly determine water intake rates (absorption), water storage in the soil, … One example is clay delving, where clay from the subsoil is mixed with the sandy surface soil. Organic matter is added to soils through cover crops, manure, compost, and crop rotation. 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