What are the three size classes that soil particles can be divided into?

What are the three size classes that soil particles can be divided into?

• A. Sand, silt, clay
• B. Gravel, sand, silt
• C. Clay, silt, loam
• D. Sand, gravel, clay

Answer: (A)

Understanding soil texture hinges on particle size. The three size classes are sand, silt, and clay. Sand particles are the largest (about 0.05 to 2 mm) and feel gritty; they drain water quickly but don’t hold nutrients well. Silt particles are smaller (about 0.002 to 0.05 mm) and feel smooth and powdery when dry, holding more water than sand but can compact. Clay is the finest fraction (less than 0.002 mm) and feels sticky and plastic when wet, retaining a lot of water and nutrients but draining slowly. Gravel is larger than sand, so it’s not one of these primary texture classes, and loam refers to a balanced mix of particle sizes rather than a single size class.

Understanding soil texture hinges on particle size. The three size classes are sand, silt, and clay. Sand particles are the largest (about 0.05 to 2 mm) and feel gritty; they drain water quickly but don’t hold nutrients well. Silt particles are smaller (about 0.002 to 0.05 mm) and feel smooth and powdery when dry, holding more water than sand but can compact. Clay is the finest fraction (less than 0.002 mm) and feels sticky and plastic when wet, retaining a lot of water and nutrients but draining slowly. Gravel is larger than sand, so it’s not one of these primary texture classes, and loam refers to a balanced mix of particle sizes rather than a single size class.