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Appendix B Determining Soil Texture 2

This document provides instructions for determining the texture of a soil sample using a technique called hand texturing. It explains that soil texture is determined by the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay in a sample and identifies these three particle sizes as the basis for soil texture classes. The document describes the process of hand texturing, which involves moistening a soil sample and assessing its properties like ribbon formation, grittiness, and plasticity to determine its corresponding texture class on the soil texture triangle.

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Dhar Dayandayan
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36 views

Appendix B Determining Soil Texture 2

This document provides instructions for determining the texture of a soil sample using a technique called hand texturing. It explains that soil texture is determined by the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay in a sample and identifies these three particle sizes as the basis for soil texture classes. The document describes the process of hand texturing, which involves moistening a soil sample and assessing its properties like ribbon formation, grittiness, and plasticity to determine its corresponding texture class on the soil texture triangle.

Uploaded by

Dhar Dayandayan
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© © All Rights Reserved
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APPENDIX B:

DETERMINING SOIL TEXTURE

Texture is an important characteristic of soil. It determines the surface area of soil, which in
turn governs its nutrient and water holding capacity. Among other factors, nutrient and
water availability in the soil determines what plants will thrive. For more information,
watch this video on the Applications of Soils. Soil texture is also important for determining
the size of void spaces in the soil, which can tell us how water moves through it and the risk
of compaction or erosion.

Mineral soils are composed of soil particles that differ in size. Anything smaller than 2 mm
in diameter can be classified as a soil particle. Larger particles are considered coarse
fragments. There are three soil particle size classes: sand, silt, and clay.

The texture of a soil is determined by the


relative proportion of each of the three
particle sizes that are found in a soil
sample. Soils that are dominated by clays
are termed fine-textured soils while those
dominated by sands are referred to as
coarse-textured soils. Texture is a basic
property of soil; it is not easily subject to
change.

A soil texture triangle (see next page) is


used to visually display the different soil
textural classes by the percentage of sand,
silt, and clay. The different sides of the
triangle represent the percentage of each
soil particle size present in a sample of soil.
The intersection of the three sizes inside The relative size of sand, silt, and clay.
the triangle represents the texture class. Outside Pride (2015). What is Soil?
In this activity, you will use a technique called hand texturing to determine the textural class
of a soil sample. Check out this handy tutorial from the Ontario Envirothon Virtual Lab to
follow along at home.

Materials: Process:
Dried soil, either from a potted 1. Collect a small sample of soil in your hand.
plant or lawn. This soil should be 2. Discard any rocks, roots, or other debris in your
as dry as possible. sample
A mixing bowl/container 3. Spray your sample with water and gently
A cup of water massage it into the soil
A spoon 4. Follow the steps in the soil texture key on the
following page to determine the textural class of
your soil sample.
(Source: Modified from S.J. Thien. 1979. A flow diagram for teaching

START texture by feel analysis. Journal of Agronomic Education. 8:54-55)

Place approximately 25 g soil in palm. Add water drowse and Add dry soil to
knead the soil to break down all aggregates. Soil is at the proper soak up water.
consistency when plastic and foldable, like moist putty.

yes yes

Does soil remain in a ball


no Is soil too dry? no Is soil too wet? no SAND
when squeezed?

yes

Place ball of soil between thumb and forefinger gently pushing the soil with the thumb, squeezing it upwards
into a ribbon. Form a ribbon of uniform thickness and width. Allow the ribbon to emerge and extend over
the forefinger, break from its own weight.

LOAMY no Does soil form a ribbon?


SAND

yes

Does oil make a weak ribbon less Does soil make a medium ribbon Does soil make a strong ribbon
than 2.5 cm long before breaking? 2.5-5 cm long before breaking? 5 cm or longer before breaking?

yes yes yes

Excessively wet a small pinch of soil in pam and rub with forefinger.

SANDY
SANDY Does soil feel very Does soil feel SANDY Does soil feel
yes CLAY yes yes
LOAM gritty? very gritty? CLAY very gritty?
LOAM
no no no

Does soil feel very


SILTY Does soil feel Does soil feel
SILT SILTY
yes
smooth?
CLAY yes
very smooth?
yes
very smooth?
LOAM CLAY
LOAM
no no no

Neither grittiness CLAY Neither grittiness Neither grittiness


LOAM yes nor smoothness LOAM yes nor smoothness CLAY yes nor smoothness
predominates predominates predominates

ONTARIO ENVIROTHON SUPPLEMENTARY RESOURCE : SECTION 2 16

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