Determining Soil Texture by Feel

Elizabeth Newell

Why does soil texture matter?

• Varies across the U.S.• Depends on topography and climate• Different soil types support specific

crops better• Soil can be separated into three

categories: sand, silt, and clay• Loam is a combination

http://soils.usda.gov/technical/aids/investigations/texture/

Sand

• Coarse• Highly erodible• Often found near fast

moving water and dry, windy areas

• When moist a finger- print is not visible

• Difficult to form a ribbon

Silt

• Smooth, fine texture• “Fine grained” soil• Finer than sand• Heavier than clay• When moist faint fingerprint is visible• Found by slow moving water and lakes• Ribbon length < 5 cm

Clay

• Smooth texture when dry• Finer than silt• Sticky, stains when wet• “Fine grained” soil• When moist fingerprint is visible• Ribbon length > 5 cm• Often found by slow moving

water and lakes

Step One• Wet a handful of soil• Form into a ball• Does ball maintain shape after rolling?– Yes = move to step two – No = sand

Step Two

• Bounce the ball in your hand • Did it break?– Yes = loamy sand– No = silt or clay

• Press your finger into the soil– Distinct fingerprint = clay– Faint fingerprint = silt

Step Three

• Form a ribbon of soil between your forefinger and thumb

• Ribbon length:– < 2.5 cm = loam– 2.5 to 5 cm = clay loam– > 5 cm = clay

• Longer ribbon = greater clay content

Step Four

• Work the soil next to your ear to listen for modifiers

• Gritty sound = sandy– Sandy loam– Sandy clay loam– Sandy clay

• Smooth sound = silt– Silt loam– Silty clay loam– Silty clay

Conclusion

• Knowing how to determine soil texture will aid in land management practices

• Enables you to select the best plants for the soil type found in your field or garden