Soil texture is one of the important physical properties of soil. Depending upon the size of soil particles, soil texture is broadly classified into the following categories – clayey soil or clay type of soil (particle size less than 0.002 mm), silt soil (particle size 0.002 to 0.05 mm) and sandy soil or sand type of soil (particle size 0.05 to 2.00 mm).

In every type of soil, all particle sizes will be present in different quantities. The name of soil texture will depend upon the dominant particle size present in the particular soil type. If all the particle sizes are equally present in the particular soil then it is called loamy soil or loam type of soil.

The quantity of water that remains in the soil’s capillary spaces after gravity water has percolated into the deeper layers is known as the water holding capacity of the soil.

The capillary pores in the soil determine the water-holding capacity of the soil. The entire amount of water, including water vapour, in an unsaturated soil is defined as the moisture content of the soil.

When soil moisture content is considered, only water existing on the land surfaces is considered and not the water present in groundwater, lakes or rivers.

The soil pH value decides the soil’s acidic or basic (alkaline) nature. The analysis of soil pH value is done at both quantitative and qualitative levels.

Various physicochemical properties of soil other than water-holding capacity of the soil, and soil moisture content, such as density, temperature, aeration, and root penetration, are affected by soil texture.

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Requirements for this Science Experiment

⦁ Balance ⦁ Weights ⦁ Mechanical sieve set ⦁ Blotting sheets or old newspapers