Republic of the Philippines

AKLAN STATE UNIVERSITY

College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences
New Washington, Aklan

Name: Kayla Mae G. Repiano Year & Section: 3 B

Date: November 29, 2023

Experiment No. 5
DETERMINATION OF COLOR AND TEXTURE OF SOILS

Objective: To learn to discern color and texture of different soil samples and grade them
according to a standard color chart.

Materials: 3 samples of soil obtained from different locations, plastic spoon, water, paper
plates, magnifying glass

Discussion:

1. Color: The Mussel color chart is the official color system used for soil research in the United
States. It grades based on three color dimensions: hue, value (lightness) and chroma (color
purity).

2. Texture: Soil texture is determined from the relative proportion in which sand, silt and clay are
found in the sample. Texture refer to the size of the individual soil particles or grains of the soil.

Sand is gritty and individual grains can be discerned by the naked eye. Sandy soil is coarse.
When there is higher percentage of sand in soil it is classified as a sandy soil.

Silt is smooth and slippery to touch. It has the characteristic feel like flour when pitted between
two fingers. The individual grains of silt are much smaller that of the soil and can only be seen
with the aid of a microscope. When split predominates, the soil is classified as silty soil.

Clay is sticky when wet. When rolled into balls it will hold and not break. Compared to silt, clay
particles are much smaller and a higher magnification is necessary to see the individual grains
such as an electron microscope. Soil that has a high percentage of clay is classified as clay

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Procedure:

A. Color

1. Search the Mussel Color Chart in the net and have a copy of it.

2. Use a plastic spoon to scoop a small amount of soil obtained from different locations.

3. Observe the color of soil sample and record results in the observation table.

4. Using the Mussel color chart, assign the color grade of the samples being analyzed.

5. Record your observations in the table provided.

B. Texture

Watch demonstration @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWZwbVJCNec to guide you in

determination of the texture of your soil samples.

1. Use your touch, your naked eyes, the aid of magnifying glass to determine the texture of your
sample. Show picture or video to demonstrate this procedure.

2. Classify your soil sample whether it is sandy, silt or clay or a combination.

3. Record your observations.

C. Foreign Materials

1. Using a magnifying glass, note for the inclusion of other materials such as vegetation, roots,
hair, fiber, etc., and record the same under your observation.

Observation:

Attach picture of three soil samples

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 Sample Color Grade Texture Foreign Materials

Questions:
1. Are the types and color grades of your samples the same? Can color grade and texture be
used as a differentiating tool in crime investigation?
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2. From the foreign materials present in your soil sample, what do these tell you about the type
of soil?
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