What makes soil hold water?

Question

which layer of the soil or dirt
acually helps the soil or dirt hold water

Answer 1

for soil to hold water, it should contain organic material... adding good compost will give your soil the ability to hold water, allow air into the root area and break down to feed the plants......

Answer 2

Up to density of the soil in different Lay's ,water will be hold .
Other element of water holding it's amount of chemical material such as salts ,calcium ,nitrates and potassium in soil.