1. Soil Texturing Flow Chart
Josette Nebeker
Teaching Tool
AgEd 452

2. Place approximately 25 g soil in palm
Place approximately 25 g soil in palm. Add water drop by drop and knead the soil to break down all aggregates. Soil is at the proper consistency when plastic and moldable, like moist putty.

3. Does soil remain in a ball when squeezed?

4. Is the soil too dry?

5. Is the soil too wet?

6. Add dry soil to soak up water.

7. Your Texture Is…
SAND

8. Place ball between thumb and forefinger gently pushing the soil with the thumb, squeezing 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.

9. Does the soil form a ribbon?

10. Your Texture Is…
LOAMY SAND

11. Does the soil make a weak ribbon less than 2.5 cm long before breaking?

12. Excessively wet a small piece of soil in palm and rub with forefinger.

13. Does the soil feel very gritty?

14. Your Texture Is…
SANDY LOAM

15. Does the soil feel very smooth?

16. Your Texture Is…
SILT LOAM
SILT LOAM

17. Neither grittiness nor smoothness predominates.

18. Your Texture Is…
LOAM
LOAM

19. Does soil make a medium ribbon 2.5 – 5 cm long before breaking?

20. Excessively wet a small piece of soil in palm and rub with forefinger.
Next

21. Does the soil feel very gritty?

22. Your Texture Is…
SANDY CLAY LOAM

23. Does the soil feel very smooth?

24. Your Texture Is…
SILTY CLAY LOAM

25. Neither grittiness nor smoothness predominates.

26. Your Texture Is…
CLAY LOAM
CLAY LOAM

27. Does soil make a strong ribbon 5 cm or longer before breaking?

28. Excessively wet a small piece of soil in palm and rub with forefinger.

29. Does the soil feel very gritty?

30. Your Texture Is…
SANDY CLAY
SANDY CLAY

31. Does the soil feel very smooth?

32. Your Texture Is…
SILTY CLAY

33. Neither grittiness nor smoothness predominates.

34. Your Texture Is…
CLAY

35. CONGRATULATIONS! You successfully textured soil.

36. Add more water to soil.