EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Soil mineral particles are typically separated into three particle-size fractions: sand (0.05–2.0 mm), silt (2–50 m), and clay (< 2 m).

Detailed explanation-2: -Soil is a major source of nutrients needed by plants for growth. The three main nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). Together they make up the trio known as NPK. Other important nutrients are calcium, magnesium and sulfur.

Detailed explanation-3: -The basic components of soil are minerals, organic matter, water and air. The typical soil consists of approximately 45% mineral, 5% organic matter, 20-30% water, and 20-30% air.

Detailed explanation-4: -Explanation: Sand is defined as having a diameter ranging from 0.05 mm to 2 mm, silt as having a diameter ranging from 0.05 mm to 0.002 mm, and clay as having a diameter smaller than 0.002 mm. Therefore, sand particles are the largest, followed by silt, and then clay being the smallest particles in the spectrum.

Detailed explanation-5: -The particles that make up soil are categorized into three groups by size – sand, silt, and clay. Sand particles are the largest and clay particles the smallest. Most soils are a combination of the three. The relative percentages of sand, silt, and clay are what give soil its texture.