The water holding capacity is the highest in

Options

A. sandy soil
B. clayey soil
C. loamy soil
D. mixture of sand and loam

Explanation

To determine which type of soil has the highest water holding capacity, we can analyze the properties of different soil types. Here’s a step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Understand Water Holding Capacity
Water holding capacity refers to the ability of soil to retain water. This is crucial for plant growth as it determines how much water is available to plants.

**Hint:** Think about how different soil textures might affect their ability to retain water.

### Step 2: Identify the Types of Soil
The question provides four options:
- A) Sandy soil
- B) Clayey soil
- C) Loamy soil
- D) Mixture of sand and loam

**Hint:** Consider the texture and particle size of each type of soil.

### Step 3: Analyze Sandy Soil
Sandy soil consists of larger particles and has a gritty texture. It drains quickly and does not hold water well.

**Hint:** Recall that larger particles create more space for water to drain away.

### Step 4: Analyze Clayey Soil
Clayey soil is made up of very fine particles. It has a high density and can hold a significant amount of water because water molecules tend to stick to the tiny particles.

**Hint:** Fine particles can trap water more effectively than larger particles.

### Step 5: Analyze Loamy Soil
Loamy soil is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay. It has good water retention properties but is not as high as clayey soil.

**Hint:** Mixtures can have balanced properties, but they may not excel in one specific area.

### Step 6: Analyze the Mixture of Sand and Loam
A mixture of sand and loam will have better water retention than sandy soil alone but still won't surpass clayey soil in terms of water holding capacity.

**Hint:** Consider how combining different soils affects their properties.

### Step 7: Conclusion
Based on the analysis, clayey soil has the highest water holding capacity due to its fine particles that allow water to adhere to them.

**Final Answer:** The soil with the highest water holding capacity is **B) Clayey soil**.

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