Soil Textural Class Triangle

Texture is an important soil characteristic because it will partly determine water intake rates absorption water storage in the soil and the ease of tillage operation aeration status etc.

Soil textural class triangle. The figure 1 below shows the textural classification system where the three sides of the equilateral triangle represent the percentage of sand silt and clay. In this method a textural triangle chart is used to determine the classification. Soil texture triangle showing the 12 major textural classes and particle size scales as defined by the usda. Use this online tool to calculate a single point texture class based on percent sand silt and clay.

Once the particle size fractions sand silt and clay are measured a textural triangle such as the usda triangle is used to classify the soil. Including the optional sand fractions will refine the calculation. Properly classifying the soil in your yard or garden helps you describe the soil scientifically predict potential problems and determine whether a certain plant is likely to thrive or struggle in a site. Estimating soil texture cmg s14 page 3 the soil texture triangle gives names associated with various combinations of sand silt and clay.

A fine textured or clayey soil is one dominated by tiny clay particles. The textural triangle is a diagram which shows how each of these 12 textures is classified based on the percent of sand silt and clay in each. A common soil science and agricultural tool the soil texture triangle uses the percentages of sand silt and clay in the soil to assign it to one of 12 textural classes. Natural soils are comprised of soil particles of varying sizes.

A coarse textured or sandy soil is one comprised primarily of sand sized particles. In that chart the corners of triangle indicates the hundred percent of each composition sand silt clay and also the twelve textural classes of soil were noted within the triangle with the indication of thick line separation between those classes. Soil science society of america journal 63 807 808. The soil texture triangle is one of the tools that soil scientists use to visualize and understand the meaning of soil texture names.

Soil texture refers to the relative percentage of sand silt and clay in a soil. Particle size analysis often is used to evaluate soil texture. In the united states twelve major soil texture classifications are defined by the united states department of agriculture. Or download a microsoft excel macro enabled spreadsheet to develop total sand silt and clay low representative and high values using an interactive texture triangle with textures that toggle on and off.

A computer program for soil textural classification. Each point in the textural. And combinedly influence soil fertility.