What effect does soil texture have on compaction?

Finer-textured soils, such as clay and silt, typically have a higher surface area and greater ability to retain water compared to coarser soils. This characteristic affects how they respond to compaction. When finer soils are compacted, the water content significantly influences their behavior; they often require more energy to achieve optimal compaction due to their cohesive nature and the way the particles interact.

The energy is needed to overcome the attractive forces between the particles and to rearrange them into a denser configuration. As these soils compact, their moisture content must be carefully managed, as too much water can lead to a reduction in compaction efficiency, while too little can increase required energy due to the particles' tendency to remain dispersed and not pack closely together.

In contrast, coarser soils, such as sand, tend to drain quickly and don’t exhibit the same cohesive characteristics; thus they usually require less energy to reach their maximum density. Therefore, the statement about finer-textured soils typically requiring more energy accurately reflects how soil texture influences the compaction process.