Determination of wet-soil consistency

Testing is done when the soil is saturated with water, as, for example,
immediately after a good rainfall. First, determine stickiness, that is, the
ability of soil materials to adhere to other objects. Then,
determine plasticity, that is, the ability of soil materials to change
shape, but not volume, continuously under the influence of a constant
pressure and to retain the impressed shape when the pressure is
removed.
Field test for stickiness of wet soil
Press a small amount of wet soil
between your thumb and forefinger to
see if it will stick to your fingers. Then
slowly open your fingers. Rate the
stickiness as follows:
0 Non-sticky, if no soil or practically
no soil sticks to your fingers;

1 Slightly sticky, if the soil begins to

stick to your fingers but comes off one
or the other cleanly and does not
stretch when the fingers are opened;
**2 Sticky, if the soil sticks to both the
thumb and forefinger and tends to
stretch a little and pull apart rather
than pulling free from your fingers;
**3 Very sticky, if the soil sticks firmly
to both thumb and forefinger and
stretches when the fingers are opened.

Field
test
for
plasticity of wet soil
Roll a small amount of
wet soil between the
palms of your hands
until it forms a long,
round strip like a wire
about 3 mm thick. Rate
the plasticity as follows:

0 Non-plastic, if no wire
can be formed;
1 Slightly plastic, if a
wire can be formed but
can easily be broken and
returned to its former
state;
**2 Plastic, if a wire can
be formed but, when it is
broken and returned to
its former state, it
cannot be formed again;
**3 Very plastic, if a
wire can be formed
which cannot be broken
easily and, when it is
broken, it can be rolled
between your hands and
be reformed several
times.

Determination of moist-soil consistency

Field
test
for
moist-soil
consistency
Testing is done when the soil is moist
but not wet, as, for example, 24 hours
after a good rainfall.
Try to crush a small amount of moist
soil by pressing it between your thumb
and forefinger or by squeezing it in the
palm of your hand. Rate moist soil
consistency as follows:
0 Loose, if the soil is non-coherent
(single-grain structure);
1 Very friable, if the soil crushes
easily under very gentle pressure but
will stick together if pressed again;
2 Friable, if the soil crushes easily
under gentle to moderate pressure;
**3 Firm, if the soil crushes under
moderate pressure but resistance is
noticeable;
**4 Very firm, if the soil crushes under
strong pressure, but this is difficult to
do between the thumb and forefinger;
5 Extremely firm, if the soil crushes
only under very strong pressure,
cannot be crushed between the thumb
and forefinger, but must be broken
apart bit by bit.

Determination of dry-soil consistency

Field test for dry-soil

consistency
Testing is done when the
soil has been air-dried.
Try to break a small
amount of dry soil by
pressing it between your
thumb and forefinger or
by squeezing it in the
palm of your hand. Rate
dry soil consistency as
follows:
0 Loose, if the soil is noncoherent (single-grain
structure):
1 Soft, if the soil is very
weakly coherent and
friable. breaking to
powder or individual
grains under very slight
pressure;
2 Slightly hard, if the
soil resists light pressure,
but can be broken easily
between thumb and
forefinger;
3 Hard, if the soil resists
moderate pressure, can
barely be broken between
the thumb and forefinger,
but can be broken in the
hands without difficulty;
4 Very hard, if the soil
resists great pressure,
cannot be broken
between the thumb and
forefinger but can be
broken in the hands with
difficulty;
5 Extremely hard, if the
soil resists extreme
pressure and cannot be
broken in the hands.