The original meaning of this word deals with Middle English denoting the

8. THE MINERAL COMPONENTS OF SOIL
1 When we talk about soil`s texture we always mention it`s mineral componentsof soil, sand, silt and clay. The mineral constituents of a loam soil might be 40% sand, 40% silt and the balance 20% clay by weight. Soil texture affects soil behavior, in particular its retention capacity for nutrients and water.

2 Sand and silt are the products of physical and chemical weathering; clay, on the other hand, is a product of chemical weathering, but often forms as a secondary mineral precipitated from dissolved minerals. It is considered as thespecific surface area of soil particles. The unbalanced ionic charges exchange capacity of soil, and hence its fertility.

3 Sand is least active, followed by silt; clay is the most active. Sand's greatest benefit to soil is that it resists compaction and increases porosity. Silt is mineralogically like sand but with its higher specific surface area it is more chemically active than sand. But it is the clay content, with its very high specific surface area and generally large number of negative charges, that gives a soil its high retention capacity for water and nutrients. Clay soils also resist wind and water erosion better than silty and sandy soils, as the particles are bonded to each other.