Horizon Properties

Soil Texture

Soil Science Basics

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Soil & Agriculture

The way a soil "feels" is called the soil texture.

Soil texture depends on the amount of each size of particle in the soil.

Sand, silt, and clay are names that describe the size of individual particles in the soil.

Sand are the largest particles and they feel "gritty."

Silt are medium sized, and they feel soft, silky or "floury."

Clay are the smallest sized particles, and they feel "sticky" and they are hard to squeeze.

Relative Size Comparison of Soil Particles

Barrel

Barrel

Sand
(feels gritty)

(2.00 - 0.05 mm, USDA)
(2.00 - 0.02 mm, ISSS)

Plate

plate

Silt
(feels floury)

(0.05 - 0.002 mm, USDA) (0.02 - 0.002 mm, ISSS)

Coin

Clay
(feels sticky)

(< 0.002 mm, USDA) (< 0.002 mm, ISSS)

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