Soil texture depends on the proportions of sand, silt and clay in the soil. The coarser mineral particles of the soil are called sand. These particles feel rough when rubbed between the thumb and fingers. When wet, silt feels smooth but is not slick or sticky. When dry, it is smooth and when pressed between the thumb and finger will retain an imprint.
Clays are the smallest soil particles.
They feel extremely smooth when dry, and become slick and sticky when wet. Texture is an important soil characteristic because it helps determine the rate at which water enters soil, the amount of air and water in the soil, and the erosion potential of the soil. As you probably already know, clay soils can be very cohesive, or sticky. This means that they will tend not to erode easily. On the other hand, sand particles, while they don t stick together easily, are larger and heavier and require more force to move.