What does the bottom of a soil triangle typically represent?

The bottom of a soil triangle typically represents the sand content in a soil sample. Soil triangles are graphical tools used to classify soil texture based on the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay. In these diagrams, the three sides correspond to the three particle sizes: sand at the bottom, silt on one side, and clay on the other.

When using the soil triangle, the position of a particular soil type within the triangle indicates its texture and how much of each component is present. Since sand is the largest particle size among the three, it occupies the bottom position of the triangle. This placement helps users quickly identify and categorize the soil based on its sand content relative to silt and clay. Understanding this helps in agricultural practices, as soil texture significantly influences water retention, drainage, and nutrient availability, which are all crucial for effective crop production.