Download SOIL TEST GUIDE Definitions: Sand

SOIL TEST GUIDE
Definitions:
Sand: 0.06-2mm
Silt: 0.004-0.06mm
Clay: <0.004 millimeter in diameter.
Loam: Relatively equal parts sand, silt, and clay
INORGANIC SOIL
The following chart is for inorganic soils and corresponds to the test descriptions on the reverse side of this sheet.
MOIST CAST
SOIL TEXTURE
FEEL TEST
RIBBON TEST
TASTE TEST
SHINE TEST
TEST
SAND
Grainy, little floury
material
No Ribbon
No cast
N/A
N/A
LOAMY SAND
Grainy, slight
amount of floury
material
No Ribbon
Very weak cast,
does not allow
handling
N/A
N/A
SANDY LOAM
Grainy,
considerable
amount of floury
material
Weak Ribbon
<1”
Weak cast, allows
for careful
handling
N/A
N/A
LOAM
Evident graininess
but fairly soft and
smooth
Weak Ribbon
<1”
Good cast, readily
handled
N/A
N/A
SILTY LOAM
Slight graininess
and floury
Weak Ribbon
<1”
Weak cast,
allows for careful
handling
Silt grittiness,
some sand
graininess
N/A
SANDY CLAY
LOAM
Very grainy
Medium Ribbon
1-2”
Moderate cast
Sand graininess
clearly evident
Slight shine
CLAY LOAM
Moderate
graininess
Medium Ribbon
1-2”
Strong cast
Sand graininess
clearly evident
Slight shine
SILTY CLAY
LOAM
Smooth and floury
Medium Ribbon
1-2”
Strong cast
Silt grittiness
Slight shine
SANDY CLAY
Very grainy
Strong Ribbon
>2”
Strong cast
Sand graininess
clearly evident
Moderately Shiny
SILTY CLAY
Smooth
Strong Ribbon
>2”
Very strong cast
Silt grittiness
Moderately Shiny
CLAY
Smooth
Strong Ribbon
>2”
Very strong cast
Smooth
Very shiny
Soil Test Descriptions
Feel Test: Rub some moist soil between your fingers and describe how it feels.
Ribbon Test: Roll a handful of moist soil into a 1/8“ cylinder and squeeze it out between the thumb and forefinger
to make the longest ribbon possible. When it breaks off, measure the length and compare to the above chart.
Moist Cast Test: Squeeze moist soil in your hand and attempt to form a ball. If it makes a ball, toss it between your
hands. Observe if it allows handling or breaks apart.
Taste Test: With your tongue, work a pinch of soil between your front teeth. Compare your results to below.
Clay: no grittiness
Silt: generally gritty but no defined grains
Sand: grits sharply against teeth
Shine Test: Rub a moderately dry ball of soil hard twice against your thumbnail. Look for a shine on the ball
ORGANIC SOILS
The Von Post Scale is used to classify your organic soil sample based on the level of decomposition.
Tightly squeeze a handful of peat in your hand. Observe the decomposition level, the colour of the water, and the
amount of peat that escapes your hand. Compare this to the table below to classify your wetland.
Decomposition
Plant
structures
Water
1
None
Unaltered
Clear or light yellowbrown
2
Almost none
3
Very weak
4
Weak
5
Moderate
6
Moderately strong
7
Humic Peat
Mesic Peat
Fibric Peat
VP Classification
Light yellow brown
Distinct
Turbid brown
Peat Escape
No peat
escapes
Strongly brown turbid
Clear but
becoming
indistinct
Somewhat
indistinct
Very strongly brown
turbid. Some peat
suspension
Muddy with much
suspended peat
Strong
Indistinct but
recognizable
Strongly muddy
Aprox. ½ of
peat escapes
8
Very Strong.
Remnants are resistant
to decomposition
(ex. roots and wood)
Very indistinct
Thick mud with little
water
Aprox. ⅔ of
peat escapes
9
Almost complete
Almost
unrecognizable
10
Complete
Unrecognizable
No water
Some peat
escapes
Aprox. ⅓ of
peat escapes
Almost all peat
escapes
All peat escapes