Soil is Pieces of rocks and minerals (such as clay, silt, sand and gravel) Decayed parts of Living things Water Air

The way a soil “feels” is called the soil texture. Soil texture depends on the grain size, or the size of each particle in the soil.

Gravel – small rocks Sand – very large grains Silt – small grains Clay- very small grains Loam-a mix of particle sizes

Sand particles are loose. They feel gritty. Each grain can be seen and felt.

Silt contains less sand and clay. Sand-sized particles, if present, are so small that they cannot felt with a finger. Clay particles are so little that it feels smooth and rather silky.

Clay is the finest textured of all the soil classes. Clay usually forms hard clods or lumps when dry Clay is extremely sticky when wet.

Loam is soil material that is medium-textured. Loam tends to be rather soft. It has a gritty feel, yet is smooth and slightly sticky and plastic when moist.

Soil & Water Stewardship Week April 25 – May 2, 2004 Sponsored by America’s Conservation Districts National Association of Conservation Districts This script is based on “The Living Soil” background essay written for this observance by Neil Sampson with The Sampson Group in Alexandria, Va. Photos courtesy of USDA, NACD, and Ron Francis.)