Soil texture (TIN037)

Texture describes the mixture of different particle sizes in soils and names such as sandy loam and clay are used to describe these mixtures. Soils may also be referred to as heavy (clays) and light (coarse textured) to indicate their ease of cultivation. Texture is a fundamental soil property influencing key characteristics such as drainage, water storage, workability, susceptibility to soil erosion and suitability for different uses. It also plays a major part in defining ‘soil structure’.