Soil Texture

The soil texture is based on a number of things. The stablest component of the soil is its anatomy of rock particles; it is based on the size of these that soil is classified as clay, sand, or silt. Most soil is a combination of all three of these elements. Its texture is most defined by the amounts in which they are all present. Laboratory analysis is the only way to determine the exact composition of any soil, but you can get a rough idea of the soil texture simply by massaging a pinch of moist soil lightly between your thumb and forefinger.

Sand will feel harsh and gritty, and its grains will barely hold together. They are the largest soil particles, if they were any larger, they would most likely be called gravel. Coarse-textured, or sandy soil is very easy to work. Because of the fact that can be plowed by a small team of horses, it came to be called light soil. It will drain easily, and many nutrients filter through it with water. In order to grow most garden plants in light, sandy, soil, requires a constant replenishment of humus, nutrients and water.

Silt particles are much smaller than sand, but larger than clay. They will feel floury and smooth between the fingers. Silt will pack together with fewer spaces of air than sand, which makes drainage slower, but it will not hold together very well. It will become light and powdery when it dries out.

Clay soil was termed "heavy" because it took a heavier team of horses to plow it. A particle of clay is at least a thousand times finer than a grain of coarse sand. Clay particles will pack into compact lumps that will dry as stony clods. If you rub a bit of moist clay between your forefinger and thumb, it rolls into a cylinder. Clay particles will actually absorb moisture and nutrients, as opposed to sand and silt. They have a tendency to swell up in the process, closing the pores in the soil, compacting it, and obstructing drainage. The soil will shrink again when it dries but will remain hard packed; sometimes forming deep cracks on the surface. Even though it can be difficult to get your plants started in clay soil, once they are established, they are most likely to do very well.

Loam is the name given to medium-textured soil, which is soil containing sand, silt, and clay in well-balanced proportions that not one of them predominates. The term is a little vague, including such inaccuracies as clay loam, dandy loam, and silty loam, but basically it means "good soil." It is friable, which is an easy way of saying that the large clods break down easily into smaller particles. A pinch of this moist loam rubbed between your fingers will be dwindled to a rough smear.

Once you have dealt with this good loam, you most likely will not mistaken if for anything else. It will hold moisture well and will encourage the organic activity that makes most the nutrients available to plant roots. With proper management and maintenance almost any crop can be grown in loam. Humus and fertilizer must still be added on a regular basis, of course, in order to maintain desirable levels, and an occasional bit of lime may be needed in order to correct the acidity level.

Once you have learned the different soil textures you will know what you are dealing with and figure out what needs to be done in order to have a successful landscape, flower garden and delectable vegetable garden.