iBoske | Soil Textural Flow Chart

Amina Bahloul

Place 1/4 cup of soil in your hands. Add water to your soil sample. Work your hands together to form a ball. Does your sample form a ball? Yes. No.
Sand.
Press down on your ball of soil. Does your soil sample hold a ribbon? Yes. No.
Loamy Sand.
Measure the maximum length of your ribbon before it starts to break. What is the measurement of your ribbon? Weak Ribbon: 2.5 cm or less. Medium Ribbon: 2.5 cm - 5.0 cm. Strong Ribbon: 5.0 cm or more.
Does your soil feel very gritty? No. Yes.
Sandy Loam.
Does your soil feel very smooth? No. Yes.
Silt Loam.
Does your soil feel neither gritty nor smooth? Yes.
Loam.
Does your soil feel very gritty? No. Yes.
Sandy Clay Loam.
Does your soil feel very smooth? No. Yes.
Silty Clay Loam.
Does your soil feel neither gritty nor smooth? Yes.
Clay Loam.
Does your soil feel very gritty? No. Yes.
Sandy Clay.
Does your soil feel very smooth? No. Yes.
Silty Clay.
Does your soil feel neither gritty nor smooth? Yes.
Clay.