BUREAU OF SOILS AND WATER MANAGEMENT

Soil Texture Determination

(Feel Method)
MARJORIE JEAN E. TAO
Agriculturist II
Soil Physics Section
Laboratory Services Division
 SOIL TEXTURE

- refers to the proportion of sand, silt

and clay sized particles that make up
the mineral fraction of the soil

- influences almost every aspects of soil

use both agriculture and engineering
applications and even how natural
ecosystem functions

This PhotoThis Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

 SOIL TEXTURE

Particle Size
Soil Separate Grades
(Millimeters)
Very coarse sand 2.0 – 1.0

Coarse sand 1.0 – 0.5

Medium sand 0.5 – 0.25
Fine sand 0.25 – 0.10
Very fine sand 0.10 – 0.05
Silt 0.05 – 0.002
Clay Less than 0.002
 SOIL TEXTURE

Sand
- Feels gritty

Silt
-feels like flour (dry)
-feels smooth (wet)

Clay
- hard and brittle (dry)
-feels sticky (wet)
GUIDE TO SOIL TEXTURE
BY FEEL METHOD

Coarse-textured soils
52-100% sand

Medium-textured soils
Even distribution of clay
and sand

Fine-textured soils
at least 35-40 % or more
clay
GUIDE TO SOIL TEXTURE BY FEEL METHOD
GUIDE TO SOIL TEXTURE
BY FEEL METHOD

Coarse-textured soils
-Low water holding capacity
-High water infiltration rates
-High potential for leaching
-Low nutrient retention
GUIDE TO SOIL TEXTURE
BY FEEL METHOD

Fine-textured soils
-Slower water infiltration rates
-Remains wet longer
-High nutrient retention
GUIDE TO SOIL TEXTURE
BY FEEL METHOD

Medium-textured soils
-Sufficient water infiltration
-Good water holding capacity and
nutrient retention
 FACTORS AFFECTING FEEL METHOD

• By feel and sight observation

o Sand – gritty
o Silt - smooth or silky
o Clay - smooth and exhibits stickiness and plasticity
 FACTORS AFFECTING FEEL METHOD

• Composition of the soil

o Clay Mineralogy - montmorillonitic and kaolinitic clay
o Organic matter content - lowers plasticity
o Mica content - lubricating effect of platy minerals of silt
and sand
o Salt content - crystallization of salt
 REFERENCES

Modified from S.J. Thien. 1979. A flow diagram for teaching texture by feel analysis. Journal of
Agronomic Education. 8:54-55.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/edu/?cid=nrcs142p2_054311 date retrieved:
August 28, 2022

Moebius-Clune, B.N., D.J. Moebius-Clune, B.K. Gugino, O.J. Idowu, R.R. Schindelbeck, A.J.
Ristow, H.M. van Es, J.E. Thies, H.A. Shayler, M.B. McBride, K.S.M Kurtz, D.W. Wolfe, and G.S.
Abawi, 2016. Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health – The Cornell Framework,Edition 3.2,
Cornell University, Geneva, NY.

USDA-NCS. 1987. Soil Mechanics Level I. Module 3 – USDA Textural Classification.

Thank you for your attention!