Soil texture refers to the composition of
sand, silt and clay sized particles in different proportions that make up the
mineral fraction of the soil. Soil texture influences almost every aspect of
soil use as well as in ecosystem services including the very important
supporting services like biogeochemical cycles and soil formation etc. Soil
texture greatly affects the soil-water relationships, gaseous exchange,
retention of soil nutrients, mineral and humic compounds.
               Soil
texture is classified in various types according to the composition of
differently sized particles. Â Major
classes are Sandy, Loam, Clay, Loamy Sand (Silt), Sandy Loam, Silty
Loam, Sandy Clay Loam, Silty Clay Loam,
Clay Loam, Sandy Clay and Silty Clay. Â
Figure:
Major Soil Texture Groups
             There are various simple methods to know the soil
texture in the field. For example, by taking the soil in hand and squeezing it
into a ball, throwing the ball at a hard surface, crushing the ball etc; by
pushing the soil into a ribbon between thumb and forefinger; by rubbing the
soil; by mixing the soil in the water and after stirring the water letting the
differently sized and weighed soil particles settle in different layers. There are
other laboratory tests too to determine the soil texture, most common is the sieving
of soil and estimating proportion of different sized particles to determine the
texture class.
             By collection of soil samples and examination of their
texture one can prepare the soil texture map for an area. By understanding the
soil texture types in an area one can also better understand the distribution
of plant diversity, cropping pattern and nutrient status as well. Â
