Question

The water holding capacity of defferent types of soils decreases in the order -; 1) Clay > Silt > Sand; 2) Clay > Sand > Silt; 3) Sand > Silt > Clay; 4) Silt > Sand > Clay

Answer 1

The water holding capacity of different types of soils decreases in the order 3) Sand > Silt > Clay

What is water holding capacity of soils?

It is defined as the ability of the soil to physically hold water against the forced of gravity.

How do different types of soils have different water holding capacities?

Water holding capacities depend upon the particles of soils that will hold the molecules of water by cohesion. Smaller the particle sizes, better would be their ability to hold water in them.

Therefore, clay has a much better ability to hold water than silt and sand.