Soil texture is determined primarily by

Soil texture is primarily determined by the particle sizes of the mineral components in the soil. These mineral particles can range in size from large rocks to tiny clay particles. The three main particle size classes that determine soil texture are sand, silt, and clay. Sand particles are the largest, ranging in size from 0.05 to 2.0 millimeters. Silt particles are smaller, ranging from 0.002 to 0.05 millimeters. Clay particles are the smallest, less than 0.002 millimeters in size. The proportion of these particle sizes in the soil determines its texture. Soil texture is an important factor that affects many soil properties, including water-holding capacity, drainage, nutrient availability, and the ability of roots to grow. Soil texture is also used as a basis for soil classification, with different textures having different names, such as sandy loam, clay loam, and silty clay.