Which soil particle size is considered the largest?

Sand is considered the largest soil particle size. The classification of soil particles is based on their size, with sand particles typically ranging from 0.05 to 2.0 millimeters in diameter, making them larger than both silt and clay. This particle size gives sandy soils a gritty texture and allows for greater drainage, as the larger spaces between the particles enable water to flow through more easily.

In contrast, silt particles are smaller, measuring between 0.002 and 0.05 millimeters, while clay particles are even smaller, less than 0.002 millimeters in diameter. Loam is a mixture of different particle sizes, typically containing sand, silt, and clay in roughly equal amounts, but it doesn’t represent the largest particle size on its own.

Understanding these size classifications is important because they influence soil properties such as drainage, nutrient retention, and texture, which are key factors in agricultural practices and environmental management.