Field Analysis – Soil Texture

BSS3 – The Properties of Soil

• Soil

• Water

• N/A

Lab Materials

Other Notes

LAB INSTRUCTIONS

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Fill hand with dry soil.

Fill the palm of your hand with dry soil

Moisten soil.

Moisten soil so it sticks together and can be worked with fingers. Do not saturate it to runny mud. If the soil sticks to your fingers, it is too wet to texture and more dry soil should be added.

Knead soil.

Knead the soil between your thumb and fingers. Take out the pebbles, and crush all the soil aggregates. Additional water may need to be added.

Continue to crush all aggregates.

Continue to work the soil until all aggregates have been crushed.

LAB INSTRUCTIONS

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Estimate sand content.

Estimate the sand content based on the amount of textural grittiness felt.

More than 45% sand = sand dominates and textural name contains sand or sandy

20-45% sand = sand is noticeably present, but not dominant. Texture is most likely loam or clay loam, though silt loam or clay are possible

Less than 20% sand = silt and clay dominate and textural name is silt loam, silty clay loam, or clay

Estimate clay content.

Estimate the clay content by the size of the soil ribbon formed by pushing the sample up between your thumb and index finger.

Less than 27% clay = a ribbon is not present or it is less than 1 inch long. Textural names contain the word loam, but no the word clay

27-40% clay = ribbon is 1-2.5 inches long and textural name contains both the words clay and loam

More than 40% clay = clay dominates and the ribbon is more than 2.5 inches. Textural name contains the word clay but not the word loam

Combine estimates.

Combine your estimates of sand and clay.