Determining Soil Texture TEXTURE CLASSIFICATION

C =
MC =
Coarse
Moderately Coarse

By the Feel Method M =

F =
Medium
Fine
Sand particle size should be estimated (very fine,
fine, medium, coarse) for these textures.
Individual grains of very fine sand are not visible
without magnification and there is a gritty feeling
to a very small sample ground between teeth.
Some fine sand particles may be just visible.
Medium sand particles are easily visible.
START Examples of sand size descriptions, where one size
is predominant, are: very fine sand, fine sandy
loam, loamy coarse sand.

Place approximately one tablespoon of soil in palm.

Add water a drop at a time and knead the soil to Add dry soil to
break down all aggregates. Soil is at the proper soak up water.
consistency when plastic and mobile, like moist putty.

YES YES

Does soil remain in a Is soil too dry? Is soil too wet? SAND*
NO NO NO
ball when squeezed? C
0-10%
YES Clay percentage range.

Place ball of soil between thumb and forefinger, gently

pushing the soil with the thumb, working it upward
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.

LOAMY
Does soil form a ribbon? NO SAND*
6-15% C
YES

Does soil make a weak Does soil make a Does soil make a strong
ribbon less than 1" long NO medium ribbon 1" to 2" NO ribbon 2" or longer
before breaking? long before breaking? before breaking?
YES YES YES

Excessively wet a small Excessively wet a small Excessively wet a small

pinch of soil in palm of hand pinch of soil in palm of hand pinch of soil in palm of hand
and rub with forefinger. and rub with forefinger. and rub with forefinger.

Does soil feel SANDY Does soil feel SANDY Does soil feel SANDY
very gritty? YES LOAM* very gritty? YES CLAY very gritty? YES CLAY
MC LOAM F
0-20% 20-35% F 35-55%
NO NO NO
SILT
or SILTY SILTY
Does soil feel Does soil feel CLAY Does soil feel
very smooth? YES SILT very smooth? YES
very smooth? YES CLAY
LOAM LOAM F
0-27% M 27-40% F 40-60%
NO NO NO

Neither grittiness Neither grittiness CLAY Neither grittiness

LOAM LOAM CLAY
nor smoothness YES nor smoothness YES nor smoothness YES
F
predominates. M predominates. F predominates.
7-27% 27-40% 40-100%

Modified from: Thien, Steve J.; Kansas State University, 1979 Jour. Agronomy Education.