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Soil Texture Triangle

This document provides a guide to determining soil texture through feel. It outlines a process of adding water to a small soil sample and kneading it to reach the proper consistency, then forming a ribbon to test strength and length before breaking. Based on whether the soil forms a ball, ribbon, or feels gritty, smooth, or sticky, it can be classified on a soil texture triangle as sand, loam, silt, clay or combinations thereof.

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509 views2 pages

Soil Texture Triangle

This document provides a guide to determining soil texture through feel. It outlines a process of adding water to a small soil sample and kneading it to reach the proper consistency, then forming a ribbon to test strength and length before breaking. Based on whether the soil forms a ball, ribbon, or feels gritty, smooth, or sticky, it can be classified on a soil texture triangle as sand, loam, silt, clay or combinations thereof.

Uploaded by

OO;
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Soil Texture Triangle

Guide to Soil Textures by Feel


Northwestern Guide to Soil Textures
(modified from Rob Harrisons figure)
(works best when utilized with adequate beer intake)
Start Here
p lace ap p roximately 10 g soil in p alm,
add water drop wise and knead the soil
to break down aggregates. Soil is at
the p rop er consistency when p lastic add dry soil to
and moldable like moist p utty . soak up water
ya ya
sure sure
does soil remain in a is soil is soil
ball when squeezed?
no
too dry ?
no
too wet?
no
S AND
ya
sure

p lace a ball of soil between thumb and forefinger


gently p ushing the soil with the thumb and
squeezing it up ward into a ribbon. Form a ribbon
of uniform thickness and width. Allow the ribbon
to emerge and extend over the forefinger,
breaking from its own weight

does the soil even form a ribbon? no LOAMY


you S AND
betcha

does soil make a does soil make a does soil make a


weak ribbon less no medium ribbon less no strong ribbon 5 cm
than 2.5 cm long than 2.5 -5 cm long or longer before
before
ya
breaking? before ya
breaking? breaking? ya
sure sure sure

excessively wet a small p inch of soil in p alm and rub with forefinger

does soil does soil S ANDY does soil


ya
ya
feel very sure
sure
S ANDY ya
feel very sure CLAY ya
ya
feel very sure
sure
S ANDY
gritty ? LOAM gritty ? LOAM gritty ? CLAY
no no no

does soil ya does soil S ILTY does soil ya


ya
feel very sure S ILTY ya
feel very sure ya
feel very sure S ILTY
sure
LOAM CLAY sure
CLAY
smooth? smooth? LOAM smooth?
no no no

smoothness or gritti- smoothness or gritti- smoothness or gritti-


ness don't dominate; ness don't dominate; ness don't dominate;
is sticky is sticky ya is sticky ya
ya
sure sure sure
RobHarrison:NW guide to soil texture

LOAM CLAY CLAY


LOAM

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