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Soil Texture
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Soil is classified into three general groups; sandy, loam, and clay, as shown in the table below.
An aspect of soil texture is the content of particles larger than 2mm. This fraction is referred to as gravel and/or stones. When the gravel content of the soil exceeds 10%, it should be considered when interpreting the chemical composition of the soil. Gravel dilutes the concentration of available nutrient elements.
The soil textural class can then be determined as follows:
Clay and organic matter (humus) are the active materials in the soil. The humus content of soil can be intentionally increased, but it is more often decreased by agricultural practices. The clay content, however, is a fixed property and cannot be changed economically. The type and concentration of clay determine the cation-exchange capacity, water-holding capacity, aeration, and many other soil properties. The type of soil preferred by different crops differs between crops. For example, the ideal soil for citrus production is one that contains less than 50% small particles (fine sand, silt and clay) and less than 25% clay. The figure below shows the relationship between clay content and soil suitability for citrus production.
