Which of the following statements about the soil triangle parameters is correct?

• A. Clay, Silt, and Sand
• B. Water, Air, and Temperature
• C. Nutrients Only
• D. Organic matter, pH, texture

Answer: (A)

The soil texture triangle is built from the three particle-size fractions that make up a soil: clay, silt, and sand. By expressing the proportions of these three components (which add up to 100%), you place a soil on the triangle and determine its texture class, which in turn influences drainage, water-holding capacity, and workability. That specificity—the three texture components clay, silt, and sand—is what the triangle measures. Other terms like water, air, and temperature describe environmental conditions; nutrients relate to fertility; and organic matter or pH are chemical properties—useful, but not the three components that define the texture triangle.