Soil Texture by Feel

Place soil in palm of hand. Add water drop-wise Does the soil remain in a ball when squeezed? and knead the soil into a smooth and plastic consistency, like moist Yes No putty. Add water Add dry soil Yes Is the soil too dry? No Yes Is the soil too wet? No

Place ball of soil between thumb and forefinger, Sand gently pushing the soil between with the thumb, Type 1 squeezing it upward into a ribbon. Form a ribbon of uniform thickness and width. Allow ribbon to emerge and extend over the forefinger, Loamy Sand breaking from Type 1 its own weight. No Does the soil form a ribbon? Yes

What kind of ribbon does it form?

Moisten pinch of soil in palm and rub with forefinger. Forms a weak Forms a 1 - 2” Forms a ribbon less ribbon before ribbon 2” or than 1” before breaking longer before breaking breaking Loam Clay Loam Clay Type 2 or 2A Type 3 or 3A Type 4 or 4A

Does it fell Yes Sandy Loam Sandy Clay Sandy Clay very gritty? Loam

Does it feel equally gritty Yes Loam Clay Loam Clay and smooth?

Does it feel Yes Silt Loam Silty Clay Silty Clay very smooth? Loam

If platy structure then soil type 5 Long-term Acceptance Rates Corresponding Long Term Acceptance Rate (LTAR) Soil Type, Texture, Structure and Percolation Rate Range in gallons per day per sq. ft. USDA Soil USDA Soil Soil Percolation Treatment Treatment Treatment Treatment Treatment USDA Soil Texture Structure- Structure- Type Rate (MPI) Level 1 Level 2 Level 2N Level 3 Level 3N Shape Grade Soil Type 1 with more 1.0 than 35% rock >2 mm (minimum 3’ 1.0 0 -- Single Grain <5 deep unlined Soil Types 2-5 with more sand filter (minimum 2-foot deep unlined sand filter required 2) than 50% rock (>2 mm) required 2) Sand -- Single Grain 5-15 0.80 1.25 1.25 1.40 1.40 1 Loamy Sand Sandy Loam Prismatic Moderate Loam Blocky 16-25 0.60 0.90 0.90 1.00 1.00 2 Strong Silt Loam Granular Prismatic Sandy Loam Blocky Weak Loam 26-40 0.50 0.70 0.70 0.80 0.80 2A Granular Massive Silt Loam None Sandy Clay Loam Prismatic Moderate Clay Loam Blocky 41-60 0.35 0.50 0.50 0.60 0.60 3 Strong Silty Clay Loam Granular Prismatic Sandy Clay Loam Blocky Weak Clay Loam 61-75 0.30 0.40 0.40 0.50 0.50 3A Granular Massive Silty Clay Loam None Sandy Clay Prismatic Moderate Clay Blocky 76-90 0.20 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 4 Strong Silty Clay Granular Prismatic Sandy Clay Blocky Weak Clay 91-120 0.15 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 4A Granular Massive Silty Clay None Weak 5 Soil Types 2-4A Platy Moderate 121+ 0.10 0.15 0.15 0.15 0.15 Strong Based on CDPHE WQCC Regulation 43 Table 10.1 Soil Treatment Area Long-term Acceptance Rates by Soil Texture, Soil Structure, Percolation Rate and Treatment Level

100 10 90 20 Textural 80 30 Triangle 70 Percent Silt Clay 40 60

Percent Clay 50 50 Silty Sandy Clay 60 40 Clay Clay Silty Clay 70 30 Sandy Clay Loam Loam Loam 80 20 Loam Sandy Loam Silt Loam 90 10 Loamy Silt Sand Sand 100 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Percent Sand