Sand

The sand group includes all soils in which the sand separates make up at least 70% and the clay separate 15% or less of the material by weight. The properties of such soils are therefore characteristically those of sand in contrast to the stickier nature of clays. Two specific textural classes are recognized in this group sandy and loamy sand

Usually consists of quartz but may also contain fragments of feldspar, mica and occasionally heavy minerals viz., zircon, Tourmaline and hornblende.
Has uniform dimensions
Can be represented as spherical
Not necessarily smooth and has jagged surface

Importance of sand

Sand facilitates drainage and aeration. It allows rapid evaporation and percolation.
Sandy soils have very little water holding capacity. Such soils can not stand drought and unsuitable for dry farming.
Sandy soils are poor store house of plant nutrients
Contain low organic matter
Leaching of applied nutrients is very high.
In sandy soil, few crops can be grown such as potato, groundnut and cucumbers.