There are four main types of soil: sandy soil, silt soil, clay soil, and loamy soil. Sandy soil has large particles that drain well but poor water retention. Clay soil has very small, tightly packed particles that retain water well but drain poorly. Silt soil has intermediate particle size, draining better than clay and retaining water better than sand. Loamy soil is a balanced combination of sand, silt and clay, making it highly fertile and suitable for agriculture.