What does “soil texture” refer to?

Soil texture specifically pertains to the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay particles within a soil sample. Understanding soil texture is crucial because it significantly influences various properties of the soil, such as its drainage capacity, nutrient retention, and overall fertility. Different combinations of these three particle sizes create different textural classes, which in turn affect how the soil behaves in terms of water movement, aeration, and root penetration.

For instance, sandy soils drain quickly and don't retain nutrients well, whereas clayey soils may hold water but can become compacted and restrict root development. Thus, identifying the soil texture helps in making informed decisions about land management and agricultural practices. Other choices focus on characteristics unrelated to the definitions of soil texture, such as physical and chemical properties (like moisture content and depth) or sensory attributes (like color and aroma), which do not define what soil texture is.