| Soil texture is the percent sand, silt and clay in any given sample. It describes how gritty, smooth or sticky the soil is… We will practice this a lot in the field, but on the exam you will need to know how to describe each of the textural classes. Below is the most common terminology: |
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 SAND: Will not form a ball or a ribbon; very gritty. LOAMY SAND: Will form a weak ball, but no ribbon; very gritty. SANDY LOAM: Will form a weak ribbon (< 1”); very gritty. LOAM: Will form a weak (<1”) ribbon; intermediate (some) grittiness. SILT LOAM: Will form a weak (<1”) ribbon; very smooth (little grit). SANDY CLAY LOAM: Will form a moderate (1-2”) ribbon; very gritty. CLAY LOAM: Will form a moderate (1-2”) ribbon; intermediate (some) grittiness. SILTY CLAY LOAM: Will form a moderate ribbon (1-2”); very smooth (little grit). CLAY: Will form a strong ribbon (>2”); very plastic; can make little animals out of it, etc. |
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