MODULE 2: SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Lesson 1: Soil Texture and Structure

Learning Outcomes:

 Differentiate the three soil separates (sand, silt, and clay);

 Determine the percentages of sand, silt, and clay in selected soil samples
using data collected from the hydrometer method of particle size analysis;
 Use a textural triangle to determine the textural class of a soil;
 Understand the relationship between particle size and specific surface
area.

Time Frame: one week

Introduction:

Soil texture and structure are considered “master variables”, meaning

that texture and structure directly influence a large number of other soil
properties. For example, in comparing a clayey soil and a sandy soil, one
would expect the clayey soil to have larger specific surface area, more
cation exchange capacity, more total porosity, less macro porosity, and
more organic matter than the sandy soil. Thus, by simply knowing the
texture of the soil, inferences can be made in regard to many soil
properties. Here, soil texture will be determined quantitatively using the
hydrometer method, and estimated using the texture by feel method.
Different soil structure types will also be observed. What you learn about
texture and structure in these activities will be used later during the soil pit
field trips to describe soil profiles in the field.
Learning Guide

Soil Texture and Textural Composition

Soil texture could be defined as the relative proportion of particle size
groupings in the soil on percentage basis. It describes the sand, silt and
clay composition of the soil.
The smaller the particles in a soil, the larger the internal surface area.
Similarly, the smaller the particles in a soil the more water and nutrients
the soil can retain.
In the field a soil is composed of a mixture of separates which are groups
of soil particles of a given size ranges (i.e. different size particles which
together make up a given soil).
Physical test for these three groups reveals that sandy soil is generally
coarse, gritty, non-sticky with low cohesion; silt is smooth like flour while
clay is sticky and plastic when wet but very hard when dry. A loam texture
soil usually exhibits a combination of the three properties.
A soil sample usually contains a combination of at least two separates thus
there are classes of soil texture. These combinations are therefore
classified into twelve different combinations called soil textural classes.
Table 1 shows two schemes of classification used for defining various
separates in soils.
Definition of Soil Texture Classes
Apart from the modification of sandy textures with terms such as gravelly,
coarse, very fine, fine, etc. there are twelve basic soil textural classes
recognized. In order of increasing proportions of the fine separates, the
classes include: sand, loamy sand, loam, loam, silt, loam, sandy clay loam,
clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay and clay.
The basic soil textural class names, in use presently, are defined in terms
of particle-size distribution as determined in the laboratory by a procedure
termed Particle Size Distribution Analysis or Mechanical Analysis or
Gravometric Analysis.
In general, the twelve textural classes may be defined as follows:
Sand - Soil material that contain 85% or more of sand and a
percentage of silt plus 1 ½ times the percentages of clay not
exceeding 15.
Loamy Sand- Soil material that contains at the upper limit 85 to
90% sand, and the percentage of silt plus 1 ½ times the percentage
of clay isnot less than 15; at the lower limit it contains not less than
70 to 85% sand, and the percentage of silt plus twice the percentage
of clay does not exceed 30.
Sandy Loam- Soil material that contains either 20% clay or less and
the percentage of silt plus twice the percentage of clay exceeds 30,
and 52% or more sand; or less than 7% clay, less than 50% silt, and
between 43% and 52% sand.
Loam- Soil material that contains 7 to 27% clay, 28 to 50% silt, and
less than 52% sand.
Silt Loam- Soil material that contains 50% or more silt and 12 to
27% clay (or) 50 to 80 percent silt and less than 12% clay.
Silt - Soil material that contains 80% or more silt and less than 12%
clay.
Sand Clay Loam – Soil material that contains 20 to 35% clay, less
than 28% silt and 45% or more sand.
 Clay Loam- Soil material that contains 27 to 40% clay and 20 to
45% sand.
Silty Clay Loam – Soil material that contains 27 to 40% clay and less
than 20% sand.
Sandy Clay- Soil material that contains 35% or more clay and 45% or
more sand.
Silty Clay- Soil material that contains 40% or more clay and 40% or
more silt.
Clay- Soil material that contains 40% or more clay, less than 45%
sand, and less than 40% silt.
In the field however, a method known as the “Feel Method” is used in
assessing soil texture. In this method, a sample of the soil usually moist or
wet is rubbed between the fingers and the texture assessed by the
behavior of the soil particles using a knowledge of the behavior of the
various quantities of the separates present in the soil sample. In other
words, the differing sizes of the constituent particles give each soil a
characteristic feel. Thus, a soil composed mainly of coarse sand particles
feels light and gritty; one composed mainly of clay feels heavy and sticky.
In general, the twelve textural class names already established, form a
more or less graduated sequence from soils that are coarse in texture and
easy to handle to the clays that are very fine and difficult to manage, while
the loams are in between the two extremes.
Why Study Soil Texture
Soil texture is studied because:
The rate at which water enters the soil (infiltration) and drains
through (percolation) depends on whether it is sandy, silt or clay soil.
The rate of nutrient leaching also depends on rate of water
infiltration e.g. clay soils have the best holding ability for water and
chemical nutrients.
Soil texture influences the ease at which a soil can be worked; clay
soils are more difficult than sandy soils.
The knowledge of soil texture and crop requirement of soil enable the
grower to select suitable soils/land for his crop.
Growers would be able to know management practices suitable for
the soil types especially in terms of fertilization, irrigation and organic
materials incorporation.
Soil Structure and Aggregates
Soil structure may be defined as the organization of sand, silt, clay and
humus particles into somewhat stable groupings (peds).
It can also be defined as the aggregation of primary soil particles (sand, silt
and clay) into compound particles termed peds or aggregates, which are
separated by adjoining peds by lines of weakness.
Three groups of characteristics are used to classify different kinds
of structure:
1st Type which refers to the shape of the soil aggregate e.g. granular,
platty, crumb, etc.
2nd Class refers to the size of the peds e.g. fine, medium, coarse, etc.
3rd Grade describes how distinct and strong the peds are. It
expresses the differential between cohesion within aggregates and
adhesion between aggregates e.g. weak, moderate, and strong or
 structure less terms are used for grade. A structure less condition
exist when there is no observable degree of aggregation.
Thus, the full description of the structure of a given ped could be strong,
coarse, prismatic structure; moderate fine granular structure; weak fine
crumb structure or structure less (massive) or structure less (single
grained).
Soil structure is important in agriculture from the point of view that a well
aggregated soil is often well drained, has good permeability of water, air
and roots. Such a soil is also easily worked or tilled and thus serves to
control erosion. All these are made possible because of the numerous
macrospore spaces created by the existence of numerous lines of
weakness between aggregates or peds.
Common agents of aggregation which are responsible for binding primary
soil particles into peds include the following:
 Colloidal clay minerals which consist of the finer, more reactive part
of clay in soils.
 Colloidal oxides of iron, aluminum and manganese, which are
collectively termed sesquioxides. These are especially typical of
tropical soils.
 Microbial gums; which are gums secreted by micro-organisms in
soils.
 Organic compounds, especially humus which are also colloidal in
nature.
 Carbonates
 ANALYSIS
Direction: Answer the questions concisely. The answers will be graded based in the
rubrics below:
1. Define and explain the difference between soil texture and soil structure.
2. How would manipulation (such as tillage) of a wet clayey soil affect
structure?

Explore the soil around your home!

Direction: Dig up some soil and squeeze it, crumble it, and feel it. Is the texture gritty
or smooth? Does the soil form a ball that easily crumbles? Write your observations in
box provided below.
Congratulations for completing this Module 2 Lesson 1. Great job!