2.2 — Soil components & DIY soil testing
DIY Soil Testing Lab
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DIY Soil Texture testing
In this lesson, we will begin with soil texture – a fundamental inherent property that strongly influences many other soil processes. In addition, you will find guidance and video instructions for exploring further physical, chemical, and biological properties. The aim is not to classify your soil as good or bad. Instead, the aim is to strengthen your observation skills, develop your scientific reasoning, and deepen your understanding of soil as a dynamic, living system.
Soil texture describes the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay in soil and is one of its most important physical properties. Now it’s your turn to explore it yourself. Watch the video instructions, grab a hand shovel or spoon, and take a stroll outside.
You can classify your soil based on your observations. The horizontal lines in the table show whether you can form a ribbon from your soil and its length. The vertical columns indicate how gritty the soil feels.
| VERY GRITTY | INTERMEDIATE | VERY SMOOTH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO RIBBON | sand / loamy sand | X | X |
| < 2.5 cm RIBBON | sandy loam | loam | silt loam |
| 2.5 – 5 cm RIBBON | sandy clay loam | clay loam | silty clay loam |
| > 5 cm RIBBON | sandy clay | clay | silty clay |
If you prefer written instructions, you can consult the following resources. They provide step-by-step guidance for three slightly different methods to determine soil texture by feel:
- Flow chart of the 4th edition of the WRB
- Ring method: poster by FAO
- Flow chart of method presented in the video instructions
Determining soil texture — the feel method