• Loam offers a balance between sandy and clay soils.growing plant in soil image by joanna wnuk from Fotolia.com
  
  Growing luscious gardens and crops begins with identifying the proper soil for your needs. The difference in soil types affects water- and nutrient-retention rates and the plants' ability to stand up against erosion. It is essential to have soil within the appropriate ranges to provide plants with water, air and food for growth.
  
  

Clay

• Clay soil is easily compacted soil made from finely textured components. There are a variety of classes, including sandy clay and clay loam. These variations include a mixture of sand and loam and can transform the texture of the clay. Clay soils retain large amounts of water, making drainage difficult. While wet, clay soils can be formed into shapes that will hold as the clay dries. Clay soil contains at least 40 to 50 percent clay.
  
  

Silt

• The second finest soil in texture is silt soil. Smooth to the touch, silt can also be formed into shapes when wet and retains the form as it dries. It is a flour-like soil that can withstand a reasonable amount of handling without wearing away. These soils retain water and are difficult to drain, but provide the plant with large amounts of clay and organic matter. Silt can be easily broken up into sections and must contain more than 40 percent silt but less than 40 percent of either clay or sand.
  
  

Organic

• Organic matter found in soil provides a fertile mixture of water, nutrients, minerals and air. When presented in its ideal form, organic matter's crumbly texture will allow for water and air to easily pass through while retaining the minerals and nutrients required for growth. The application of organic soil to other mixtures will provide plants with carbon, which promotes growth and an increase in microbial activity. This productive soil will successfully increase the quality of your growth and kill dangerous threats to active plant life.
  
  

Loam

• When looking for a balance between sandy and clay soils, loams are the most reliable. While allowing roots to easily pierce the surface, loam soil is beneficial for plants that need deep-seated roots. Loam is somewhat sticky when wet and the texture is fairly smooth. It is dark-colored, rich with nutrients and has a slightly sponge-like texture. Loam soil drains fairly well and is made up largely of sand and silt, with little clay.
  
  

Sandy

• With large amounts of fine and coarse sand, these gritty soils drain well but dry out quickly. Their textures vary according to the type of sand contained and can leave many plants without the necessary nutrients to survive. As the water passes through sandy soil, it carries with it large quantities of both macronutrients and secondary nutrients, which are essential to a plant's health.