# Comparison of Soil Textures
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Sand
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Sandy soils have the largest soil particles, which range anywhere from .05 to 2.0 mm. They feel gritty to the touch and have very large spaces between soil particles. This makes sandy soils very porous and unsuitable for many plants. Some plants, like cacti and succulents, thrive in sandy conditions, but usually they require organic matter to increase fertility. With added organic matter, plant roots are able to penetrate more deeply into the soil and take in nutrients.
Silt
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Silt soils have a medium texture. They tend to feel smooth and gritty, although they are finer than sand, with an average size of .002 to .05 mm. Silt soil is very common in floodplains, and makes mud when it gets wet. According to Discovery Education, silt soils erode easily due to their fine texture, although soil with a high silt content can be very fertile. Problems with silt soil usually result from its lightweight qualities, which make it quick to be carried away in wind and rain.
Clay
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Clay soils have the finest particles, with a maximum diameter of .002 mm. They also have very small spaces between soil particles, which makes them prone to compaction. Clay soils are very dense, and plants often struggle to establish themselves in clay conditions. Plant roots are not given adequate aeration, and the soil often retains too much water, which increases susceptibility to disease and insect infestation. Like sandy soils, clay soil greatly benefits from the incorporation of organic matter, which increases soil porosity and water retention.
Loam
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Loam is often called the ideal soil type. Technically, loam is not a soil texture. Rather, it is an ideal combination of sand, silt and clay soil particles. It usually has almost equal amounts of sand and silt, with a smaller amount of clay particles. Loam soils provide plenty of room for plant roots to grow, but also retain enough water to provide nutrients to plant roots. The soil particles also stick together enough to hold plenty of organic matter to support fertility.
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