Quick Guide: Soil Texture Feel Method
Two options: USDA ribbon method and FAO method
Brief Materials for both methods:
- Water in a bottle
- Soil, either sieved or you will need to pick any rocks and large organic matter out as you prepare the soil ball with water.
Brief procedure:
- Take about 25 to 30 g of soil, enough to make a ball about 4 cm in diameter
- Add water and begin to knead the ball to create an evenly mixed plastic ball with no stones or dry patches. It should be the consistency of putty, should not stick to itself, and should resist your hands forming it just a little bit, like stiff dough. Take time to practice this step, you will improve.
- If the soil will not hold together in a ball, the soil is a type of sand, see below.
USDA Method
