Which soil type tends to hold nutrients tightly?

Clay soils are known for their ability to hold nutrients tightly due to their fine particle size and high surface area. The small clay particles create a dense, compact structure that offers a large number of sites for cation exchange, allowing them to retain positively charged nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. This characteristic is essential for plant growth, as it ensures that crops have access to necessary nutrients over time, reducing leaching and promoting soil fertility.

In contrast, other soil types, like sandy soils, have larger particles that create larger spaces between them, allowing water and nutrients to move through them quickly, which can lead to nutrient loss. Silt soils can retain some nutrients but not as effectively as clay due to their intermediate particle size and structure. Loamy soils, while they provide a good balance of texture and nutrient retention, do not hold nutrients as tightly as clay soils do, as they comprise a mix of sand, silt, and clay.