Sl.

Characteristics

Sand

Silt

Clay

1.

Size

2.0-0.02 mm

0.02-0.002 mm

Below 0.002 mm

2.

Visibility

Visible by microscope

Visible by microscope

Visible by ultra-microscope

3.

Water-holding capacity

Low

Medium

High

4.

Total pore space

Least

Medium

Highest

5.

Size of pore

Large

Medium

Very small

6.

Movement of air and water

Very rapid

Moderate

Slow

7.

Plasticity, swelling, and cohesion

Very low

Moderate

Very high

8.

Feel on rubbing between thumb and fingers

Gritty

Like flour or talcum powder

Feels very plastic and sticky when wet and become hard under dry condition

9.

Tillage

Easy

Moderate

Difficult

10.

Fertility

Very Low

Moderate

High

11.

Minerals

Quartz dominates

Feldspar, mica, hematite, limonite, quartz

Kaolinite, montmorillonite and illite

12.

Chemical activity

Chemically inactive

Slightly active

Very active