What term describes the size of the soil particles and the percent of each that make up the soil?

• A. Soil color
• B. Soil texture
• C. Soil profile
• D. Soil structure

Answer: (B)

Soil texture describes the size of the soil particles and the relative amounts of sand, silt, and clay that make up the soil. This composition controls how the soil feels and behaves: sandy soils drain fast but hold little water or nutrients, clay soils retain water and nutrients but can be dense and poorly drained, and loams offer a balance that supports good plant growth. Understanding texture helps predict water-holding capacity, drainage, aeration, and how easy the soil is to work with, all of which hinge on particle size distribution. Other terms refer to different aspects: color describes appearance, a soil profile is the vertical layering of horizons, and soil structure concerns how particles bind together to form aggregates. So the term that best describes particle size and their percentages is soil texture.