What does soil texture describe?

• A. The structure and form of soil
• B. The color of soil
• C. The temperature of soil
• D. The mineral content of soil

Answer: (A)

Soil texture describes the sizes of the mineral particles that make up the soil and how much of each size is present. The main particle sizes are sand, silt, and clay, and their proportions determine how the soil feels and behaves—how tightly it packs, how large the gaps between particles are, and how easily water and air move through it. This in turn shapes the soil’s structure and form, since the arrangement of these particles into aggregates and pore spaces dictates drainage, water-holding capacity, and root penetration. It isn’t about color, temperature, or mineral content, which are governed by other soil properties.