Soil texture influences soil physical and chemical properties like water holding capacity, nutrient retention, nutrient fixation, nutrient availability, drainage, strength, compressibility and thermal regime. Soil Texture and Soil Structure. The texture of a soil has a direct impact on the way the soil reacts to certain environmental conditions – for example, towards drought or heavy rain (with sandy soils more freely draining). It is also one of the most important factors in determining crop yields. Happily organic matter is an effective way to help deal with problems with texture. Texture is an important soil characteristic because it will partly determine water intake rates (absorption), water storage in the soil, … This is for your information. What is Soil Texture? Soil texture is classified based on the percentage of sand, silt and clay in the soil. Natural soils are comprised of soil particles of varying sizes. Soil structure and texture is very important when it comes to cultivating crops.Important factors to note are: 1 . Evaluation of a good soil depends on what is being done with it and where it is located. The percentages of sand, silt, and clay may be tested in the lab. Organic matter holds nutrients very well. Once tested, the textural class of the soil can be 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” “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.” Organic matter is added to soils through cover crops, manure, compost, and crop rotation. 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, and the ease of tillage operation, aeration status etc. Soil texture describes the proportion of three sizes of soil particles and the fineness or coarseness of a soil. One example is clay delving, where clay from the subsoil is mixed with the sandy surface soil. Soil experts at the cutting edge say that 90% or more of the function of the soil comes from biology. Soil Texture or Soil Biology. Soil texture and its clay content influence the amount of air in the soil and its water-holding capacity. That is, changing the texture of your soil is possible but involves considerable mechanical and financial input. Soil texture. moisture retention.e.g black soil is highly water retentive 2 . There is a big difference in the size of the different particles. 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