What is the difference among sand, silt and clay?
Soil particles are classified according to size. Sand has the largest pieces and they are usually very irregular in shape, so they don’t pack. Clay has the smallest pieces and can pack so tightly water can’t get through. The in-between size pieces are called silt. Silt particles are irregular like sand, but they are usually coated with clay, making silt act like both. How can I determine the texture of my soil? At home you can take a handful of soil that is fairly dry and workable and squeeze it into a lump. Soils high in clay will form a clod that won’t crumble like soils with lots of sand and silt. Get some wet and rub it between your fingers. Clay feels slippery when wet and sand feels coarse and rough. Isn’t there a more accurate way to determine soil texture? Without sending a sample to be analyzed, you can do a test at home that will tell you the approximate proportions of clay, silt, sand and organic matter. Take a representative sample of your soil and let it dry out a few days
