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Geology & Earth Sciences vocabulary · Soil

Soil texture

Meaning in geology & earth sciences, with examples

nounCommon term

In geology & earth sciences, soil texture means: The proportions of sand, silt and clay particles in a soil, which control how well it holds water, how it drains and how easily it can be worked.

In Turkish: toprak bünyesi, toprak tekstürü

How it is used

Measured in the lab or estimated by hand in the field, then named with the soil texture triangle: sandy, loamy, silty, clayey. Loam, a balanced mix, suits most crops. Do not confuse texture with soil structure, the way particles clump together.

Example sentences

  1. Rub a moist sample between your fingers to estimate the soil texture.

  2. Soil texture affects how quickly water drains after irrigation.

Common collocations

  • soil texture triangle
  • soil texture class
  • fine-textured soil
  • coarse-textured soil
  • clayVery fine mineral particles, smaller than about 0.002 mm in soil science, and the soft, sticky material they form when wet. Clay holds water and nutrients well.
  • soilThe loose top layer of the land surface, made of weathered rock particles, organic matter, water and air, in which plants grow.
  • soil horizonOne of the distinct layers in a soil profile, roughly parallel to the surface, that differs from the others in colour, texture or composition.
  • permeableAllowing water or other fluids to pass through easily. Sand, gravel and cracked limestone are permeable, while clay and shale let very little water through.

More terms: Soil

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