Soil texture parameter video transcript

Soils are a combination of sand and clay and the percentages of each will determine the soil name.

Soil texture is important in determining which plants grow in a particular area as it influences the retention of soil moisture and the availability of nutrients.

To determine the texture of soil at Longneck Lagoon EEC you will need a trowel and the soil texture key.

Use the trowel to collect enough soil to fit in the palm of your hand. Remove any vegetation or stones from your soil sample.

Add water to your soil sample a bit at a time and work the water into the soil until you can roll the moistened soil into a ball which is called a bolus.

Continue to work the bolus adding more soil or water as necessary until the soil no longer sticks to your fingers. This may take 1 to 2 minutes.

Referring to the soil texture key, determine if your soil has formed a bolus without breaking. If it has, move to the next step which is to roll the bolus into a cylinder.

If the cylinder breaks apart the soil is loamy sand. If not, continue to the next step.

Bend the cylinder into a U shape. If the cylinder breaks your soil sample is loam. If not, continue to the next step.

Bend the U shape into a circle. If your cylinder breaks apart, your soil sample is clay loam. If not, continue to the next step.

Look closely at your circle. If there are cracks in your soil sample it is sandy clay. If there are no cracks, your soil sample is clay.

Return your soil sample to the ground and wash your hands.