What is the texture of soil characterized by? 

The texture of soil is characterized by the relative amounts of sand, silt, and clay particles in it.

Soil texture is an important aspect of soil science and refers to the composition of soil in terms of its mineral particle size distribution. Soil texture is usually classified into three categories based on the proportions of sand, silt, and clay particles present in the soil. These categories are sandy soil, loamy soil, and clay soil.

Sandy soil contains a high proportion of sand particles and tends to be well-drained but has poor nutrient and water-holding capacity. Loamy soil contains roughly equal proportions of sand, silt, and clay particles and is considered the ideal soil texture because it has good water-holding capacity, good drainage, and is rich in nutrients. Clay soil contains a high proportion of clay particles and tends to hold onto water and nutrients but may have poor drainage.

Soil texture can also influence the availability of nutrients to plants and affect the ability of roots to penetrate the soil. In general, sandy soils may require more frequent irrigation and fertilization, while clay soils may require more frequent aeration and may be more prone to compaction.