Final answer:
The soil with a lot of sand particles that Farmer Jan bought will have a low water-holding capacity due to its texture. The textural difference lies in the size of the soil particles and the pores between them, with sandy soils having larger pores that allow for quicker water drainage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Farmer Jan has purchased a field with soil that has a lot of sand particles. This type of soil has a low water-holding capacity due to the size and arrangement of the sand particles. The large pores between the sand particles allow water to drain quickly, which means the soil does not retain water well at field capacity following gravity's influence on the free drainage of water. Conversely, clay soils have many small spaces, which enables them to hold water much more effectively. However, sandy soils do not maintain the same level of moisture, leading to rapid drying and lower water retention between field capacity and the permanent wilting point, which is critical for plant survival.
Besides their water-holding capacity, soils also differ in their ability to hold nutrients. The negative charge on soil particles helps in delivering nutrient cations to plants, which are essential for plant growth. While the sand-dominated soil may have less ability to retain water, the nutrient content can vary and is influenced by other factors, such as the presence of organic matter and cation exchange capacity.