Organic matter is added to soils through cover crops, manure, compost, and crop rotation. Soil texture is an important soil characteristic that influences many aspects of soil quality. Soil texture class is a result commonly reported by soil testing labs and displayed on soils maps. Organic matter holds nutrients very well. Soil texture is classified based on the percentage of sand, silt and clay in the soil. The texture of soil is considered to be a stable property. 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 organic matter tends to improve soil fertility, soil structure, and soil biological activity. There is a big difference in the size of the different particles. 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” Soil structure and texture is very important when it comes to cultivating crops.Important factors to note are: 1 . Soil texture and its clay content influence the amount of air in the soil and its water-holding capacity. Soil texture describes the proportion of three sizes of soil particles and the fineness or coarseness of a soil. Soil Texture or Soil Biology. 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. What is Soil Texture? moisture retention.e.g black soil is highly water retentive 2 . "The texture of a soil is its proportion of sand, silt and clay," said James Cassidy, a soils instructor at Oregon State University. Natural soils are comprised of soil particles of varying sizes. One example is clay delving, where clay from the subsoil is mixed with the sandy surface soil. Evaluation of a good soil depends on what is being done with it and where it is located. Soil Texture and Soil Structure. Soil texture may be determined in one of two ways. The percentages of sand, silt, and clay may be tested in the lab. It is also one of the most important factors in determining crop yields. Soil texture is classified based on the percentage of sand, silt and clay in the soil. That is, changing the texture of your soil is possible but involves considerable mechanical and financial input. 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). 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