Sand, silt, and clay are the three main types of soil particles, and the proportions of these particles in the soil determine its texture: - **Sand** - The largest particle, ranging from 0.05 to 2.0 mm in diameter. Sandy soils feel gritty and drain well. - **Silt** - Particles range from 0.002 to 0.05 mm in diameter. Silts feel smooth, similar to flour. - **Clay** - The smallest particle, smaller than 0.002 mm in diameter. Clay soils feel sticky and wet, and they tend to be poorly drained.  The texture of soil is important because it affects how water moves through the soil, how much water the soil holds, and how much nutrients it can store. For example, soils with a lot of clay take in water slowly and give it up to plants slowly.  Most soils are a combination of sand, silt, and clay, and soils that are a mixture of the three are called **loams**. For example, a clay loam has roughly equal parts of sand, silt, and clay.  You can use the "hand method" to determine the texture of your soil: 1. Dig down to the mineral soil, about 6 to 8 inches. 2. Scoop out a handful of moist soil and knead it into a ball. 3. If you can work it into a ribbon, the soil has a high clay content. 4. If the soil feels gritty in your hand after wetting it excessively, it's sandy.  --- Source: Google AI See also: [[Components of soil]]