The Components of Soil: Sand, Silt & Clay

• Soil may be composed in part of silt, sand and/or clay. Seiya Kawamoto/Lifesize/Getty Images

  Soil may seem simple at first glance. But its composition, structure, temperature and texture can have a profound impact on how well your plants grow. The components of soil--clay, sand and silt--are typically found in some proportion in soils everywhere. Each soil type boasts characteristics of its own relative to permeability, aeration and nutrient availability.

Clay

• Clay soil can crack when dry. clay image by Pavel Korsun from Fotolia.com

  Of the three soil types, clay has the smallest particle size. Clay soils retain nutrients and moisture well. The small particles attract water and hold onto them. Consequently, it can be difficult for the water contained in clay soil to nourish plant life. In addition, clay soils can be viscous and difficult to work with when wet. When dry, they typically shrink and crack. In some cases, dry clay soil will cause damage to roots or even push plants out of the ground altogether. If you can improve the drainage of clay soil, it will be a more hospitable medium for most plants. One way to do this is to add manure, peat or compost to the soil.

Sand

• Sandy soils have a particle size of .05 mm to 2.00 mm, states the University of Georgia. According to RAIN.org, sandy soils are porous and do not hold onto moisture or nutrients well. They feel gritty when rubbed between the hands. Sandy soils are known for excellent drainage capability. Sandy soils are derived from such degraded rocks as limestone, quartz, granite and shale, states EAIS. To improve their growing capability, you can add organic matter, such as peat, compost or manure.

Silt

• Silt as a component of soil is a product of sedimentary deposits, typically resulting from glaciation. Particle size of silt soils ranges from 0.002 to 0.05 mm, according to the University of Georgia. Silty soils boast both ample nutrients and decent drainage. In fact, according to EAIS, it is considered one of the most fertile soils. The weak structure of silty soils makes them easy to work with when wet. When dry, they typically feel smooth to the touch.