TEXTURAL

CLASSIFICATION
OF SOIL
What is Soil Texture?
•The texture of the soil is an indication of the relative
content of particles of various sizes in the soil. It will
indicate the percentage of sand, silt, and clay present in
the soil. Soil texture will influence the ease with which
the soil can be worked. The texture of the soil is
dependent on:
•Particle size distribution
•The shape of the particles
•Gradation of the particles
•When the textural classification of soil is concerned, we
only take into consideration the particle size distribution.
The other two parameters are difficult to incorporate in
this classification.
Why soil texture is important?
• Texture is important because it influences:
• The amount of water the soil can hold
• The rate of water movement through the soil
• How workable and fertile the soil is.
 Textural Classification of soil
• Soil texture classification is based on
particle size and percentage
distribution. These are represented or
plotted along the three axes of an
equilateral triangle.
Their boundary lines are drawn to indicate
different percentages of sand, silt, and clay-
sized particles, as shown in the below image.
• The US Bureau of Public Roads
recommends triangular
classification system for soil
which is commonly called as the
textural classification system.
The figure- 1 below shows the
textural classification system,
Sand = 0.05 – 2mm
where the three sides of the Silt = 0.005 – 0.05mm
Clay = size < 0.005mm
equilateral triangle represent the
percentage of sand, silt and clay.
Example:
30% sand
50 % clay
20% silt

As shown above, the equilateral triangle has 10 zones.

Each zone of the triangle will represent each type of
soil. Hence, by determining the zone the type of soil
can be classified. In order to locate the point a key is
given. This key will give an indication about the
direction at which the lines are to be drawn so that
points can be located.
The textural classification of soils is
most preferred for classifying
coarse-grained soils, and the U.S.
Bureau of Soils first developed this.