How to Spot and Correct Erosion Problems Evaluate your property by observing or imagining what happens during flood irrigation, an intense rainstorm or strong winds. If so, then you have an erosion problem. Different soil types will have differing erosion potentials. Soil properties which will influence erosion include the size of the particles, the amount of soil organic matter, the degree to which soil particles form clumps, or aggregates, and the moisture content of the soil. The relative amount of fine and coarse mineral particles in the soil is referred to as texture .
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.