Good topsoil is a mixture of mineral particles (sand, silt & clay), water, nutrients, organic matter, air and living organisms.
Sand
- Large particle size - classified at 0.06 - 2mm
- Weak structure
- Does not hold nutrients or moisture effectively
- Free-draining
Silt
- Small particle size - classified at 0.002 - 0.06mm
- Weak structure
- Does not hold nutrients efficiently
- Good available water-holding capacity
Clay
- Very small particle size - classified at 0 - 0.002mm
- Binds together to form large surface area
- Hold moisture & nutrient effectively
- Soils with a high clay content will shrink (crack) and swell through drying and wetting