colored balls

Horizon Properties

Soil Texture (continued)
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To Determine Soil Texture

Step 4 (Test for loamy sand or silt) If the soil:
  • Forms a ball
  • Forms no ribbon
  • And is
      • H. Very gritty
        Soil texture is:
        • loamy sand

          • Soil Texture is complete.

    Or

      I. Very soft and smooth with no gritty feeling,
        Soil texture is:
        • silt

          • Soil Texture is complete.

loamy sand/silt triangle

 

Step 5 (Test for sand) If the soil:
    Forms no ball and falls apart in your hand,
      Soil texture is:
      • sand
sand triangle

Soil Texture is complete.

If you wish to download the protocol above so that you can use it in the field, here is a jpg file: soil texture steps 4 & 5.

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 Webmaster: Izolda Trakhtenberg, izolda@ltpmail.gsfc.nasa.gov
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Last Updated: March 4, 2002

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