SOIL

Chapter 3A: Physical Properties of Soil

TEXTURE.
SOIL TEXTURE

• Is the relative proportions of the

various soil fractions: sand, silt,
and clay
• The development of soil texture is
a pedogenic process
SOIL TEXTURE.
It is the degree of fineness and
coarseness of the soil.

Higher sand content = Coarser

Higher clay content = Finer
SOIL TEXTURE.
Soil texture is a more or less permanent
soil property.

“It will take a very long time to

change a soil texture through
natural process”
Classification of Soil Particles/Separates

1. SAND
• is the coarser mineral particles of the soil
• Particles vary in size
• can be seen without a magnifying glass
• Have small surface that is involved in the
chemical and physical activities of a soil
(inactive)
Classification of Soil Particles/Separates (cont’n)

2. SILT
• Relatively fine soil particles
• Particles vary in size
• Microscopic
• Coarser particles seldom take part
in the chemical activities of the
soils, finer silt has sufficient
surface to allow chemical activity.
Classification of Soil Particles/Separates (cont’n)

3. CLAY
• Finest soil particles
• Particles vary in size
• Microscopic (electron microscope)
• Clayey soils show pronounced surface
cracking when dried
• 25x > surface are than silt
• Held nutrients and is considered as storage
reservoir of soil water and nutrients
SOIL TEXTURE. “HOW MANY PERCENTAGE IS THE CLAY
CONTENT OF SOIL?”
It refers to the relative proportion of sand,
silt and clay in the soil.

“HOW MANY PERCENTAGE IS THE CLAY

CONTENT OF SOIL?”
SOIL TEXTURE.
Soil texture affects:

1. Water holding capacity

2. Nutrient holding capacity
3. Water Movement in Soil Drainage
4. Aeration
5. Susceptibility to erosion
6. Organic matter content
7. Cation exchange capacity (CEC)
8. pH buffering capacity
SOIL TEXTURE.

In General,
Higher Clay % = Higher WHC
Higher Sand % = Lower WHC
Higher Clay % = Lower Aeration
Higher Sand% = Higher Aeration
SOIL TEXTURE.
Nutrient Holding Capacity
is influenced by soil
surface area

Higher Clay % = Higher NHC

Higher Sand % = Lower NHC
SOIL TEXTURE.
Water movement is
influenced by the presence
of macropores

Higher Clay % = Lower water movement

Higher Sand % = Higher water movement
SOIL TEXTURE.
Erosion is affected by
aggregation and water
infiltration

Higher Sand % = Higher Infiltration rate = Lesser Aggregation = Higher Erosion Rate
SOIL TEXTURE.
Soil Texture Affected
Organic Matter
indirectly thru its
effects on soil moisture

Higher Clay% = Higher WHC = Increased Organism Activity= Higher Organic Matter
SOIL TEXTURE.
Soil Texture affects soil
pH through its
regulation of buffering
capacity

Higher Clay% = Higher buffering Capacity = More stable soil pH

Classification of Soil Particles/Separates (cont’n)

Generalized Influence of Soil Separates on Some Properties and Behavior of Soils

PROPERTY/BEHAVIOR RATING ASSOCIATED WITH SOIL SEPERATES

Sand Silt Clay

Water-holding capacity Low Medium to High High

Aeration Good Medium Poor

Drainage rate High Slow to medium Very slow

Soil OM Low Medium to high High to medium

Decomposition of OM Rapid Medium Slow

Warming up in Spring Rapid Moderate Slow

Compactibility Low Medium High

Susceptibility to wind erosion Moderate High Low

Classification of Soil Particles/Separates (cont’n)

Generalized Influence of Soil Separates on Some Properties and Behavior of Soils (cont’n)

PROPERTY/BEHAVIOR RATING ASSOCIATED WITH SOIL SEPERATES

Sand Silt Clay

Susceptibility to water erosion Low High Low if aggregated

Shrink-swell potential Very low Low Moderate to very high

Sealing of ponds/dams Poor Poor Poor

Suitability to tillage after rain Good Medium Poor

Pollutant leaching potential High Medium Low

Ability to store nutrients Poor Medium to high High

Resistance to pH change Low Medium High

Methods of Determining Soil Texture

1. Feel and Roll

2. Sieve Method

3. Hydrometer Method
(mechanical analysis)

https://youtu.be/TT0gbVJSuTw
Methods of Determining Soil Texture (cont’n)

Insert picture of feel and roll method

1. Feel and Roll
• Feeling the soil with the fingers (with enough
moist samples)
• Gritty, floury, sticky
Methods of Determining Soil Texture (cont’n)

1. Sand
Insert picture of feel and roll method
• Gritty and rough
2. Silt
• Smooth and floury; when wet, feels smooth but
is not sticky; when pressed between thumb and
finger, will retain an imprint
3. Clay
• Dry (extremely smooth); wet (slick and sticky
feels smooth but is not sticky; when pressed
between thumb and finger, will retain an
imprint
Methods of Determining Soil Texture (cont’n)

Hydrometer Method
• Process of determining the amounts of
individual soil separates (<2 mm)
• based upon the differential rate of settling of
soil particles in water (Stokes’ law)

Hydrometer method 1: https://youtu.be/TT0gbVJSuTw

Hydrometer method 2: https://youtu.be/JuTDHmzAB7U
Methods of Determining Soil Texture (cont’n)
Stoke’s Law
Therefore:
V= h/t and V= d 2g (Ds-Df)18ղ
𝑑2 𝑥 9.81 𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑠/𝑘𝑔 (2.65 𝑥 103 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 −1 𝑥 103 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 )
V= 1
18 𝑥1000 𝑁−𝑠𝑒𝑐/𝑚2
Where:

9.81𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑠/𝑘𝑔 1.65 𝑥 103 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3 𝑥 𝑑2

g = gravitational force = 9.81 Newtons/kg V=
0.018 𝑁𝑠/𝑚2

Ղ = viscosity of water at 20 ֯C = 1/1000 N-sec/m2 𝑁

16.19 𝑥 103 3 𝑥 𝑑2
𝑚
V =
0.018 𝑁𝑠/𝑚2
Ds = Density of solid particles, 2.65 x 103 kg/m3
9𝑥105 . 𝑑2
V=
𝑠𝑚
Df = Density of fluid (water) = 1 x 103 kg/m3
Methods of Determining Soil Texture (cont’n)
Calculate the settling time (sec) of silt particles at a depth of 10
cm. The diameter of silt s 2 x 10−5 m.

Note:
V = K𝒅𝟐 h/t = K𝒅𝟐 Therefore:

Therefore: t = 0.1 m/ (9 x 𝟏𝟎𝟓 /𝒔𝒎) (𝟐 𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝒎)𝟐

t = h/K𝒅𝟐 t = 27, 777 sec or 7.72 hrs
Methods of Determining Soil Texture (cont’n)

Textural Grouping of Soils

• Soil is never composed of only one soil separate…
• Grouping of soil separates into proportion of the
different separates present (soil textural classes)
• Generally determined using the textural diagram
SOIL TEXTURAL CLASSIFICATION.
1. Sand (85% sand or more)
2. Loamy sand (75 - 85% sand)
3. Sandy loam (43 - 52% sand)
4. Loam (Less than 52% sand, 7 - 27% clay, 28 - 50% silt)
5. Silt loam (less than 50% silt)
6. Silt (80% silt)
7. clay loam
8. Sandy clay loam
9. Silty clay loam
10.Sandy clay
11.Silty clay
12.Clay (40% clay and more, less than 45% sand, less than
40% silt)
Methods of Determining Soil Texture (cont’n)

➢ Using the textural triangle, find the

soil texture, if

% clay = 30%
% silt = 25 %
% sand = 45 %
Importance of Soil Texture into Plants

1. Relative resistance to root penetration

• Soils with high silt and clay content retard root growth (degree of root branching is decreased)

2. Infiltration of water
• Rainfall in coarse-texture soil – penetrates immediately; no runoff
• Rainfall in heavy soils – very slow; greater runoff (more susceptible to erosion problems)
• Rate of movement of water is inversely proportional with soil texture