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Soil Texture Classes

Introduction:



Soil texture is the relative proportion of sand, silt and clay in a sample of soil.

The texture of a sample can be assigned to one of several texture classes depending on the proportions of sand silt and clay in the sample.

Examples of texture classes are silt loam, clay loam and clay. 
Texture Groups
Texture Classes

Texture can be estimated by gradually wetting a soil sample and seeing how the moulded soil feels and behaves.

The texture class ( e.g. slit loam, clay loam) can then be estimated.

See below: flow diagram "Guide for the Assessment of Soil Texture Class"

Soil Texture Groups:



Some times a more general description of texture is all that is needed. In this case the soil texture group can be used. See Texture Groups.