Soil Texture by Feel

Step 1 (get and moisten sample)

Place some soil (about the size of a small egg) in your hand and moisten it. Let the water soak in and then work the soil between your fingers until it is the same moisture throughout. Once the soil is moist, try to form a ball.
     If the soil:
         * forms a ball, go to Step 2
         * does not form a ball, go to Step 5

Step 2 (Test for Clay)

A. if the soil:
     * is really sticky
     * hard to squeeze
     * stains your hands
     * has a shine when rubbed
     * forms a long ribbon (5+ cm) w/o breaking
Call it clay and go to Step 3, otherwise, go to B

B. if the soil:
     * is somewhat sticky
     * is somewhat hard to squeez
     *forms a medium ribbon (2-5 cm)
Call if clay loam and go to Step 3, otherwise go to C

C. if the soil is:
       * soft
     * smooth
     * easy to squeeze
     * at most slightly sticky
     * forms a short ribbon (+2 cm)
Call it loam and go to Step 3, otherwise, go to D

D. if the soil forms a ball but no ribbon, go to Step 4

Step 3 (Refine initial classification from Step 2 for relative amounts of sand and silt)

Wet a small pinch of the soil in your palm and rub it with a forefinger
     If the soil feels:
     * very gritty, go to E
     * very smooth, with no gritty feeling, go to F
     * only a little gritty, go to G

E. Add the word sandy to the initial classification
     Soil texture is:
     * sandy clay
     * sandy clay loam
     * sandy loam

F. Add the word silt or silty to initial classification
     Soil texture is:
     * silty clay
     *silty clay loam
     * silt loam

G. Leave the original classification
     Soil texture is:
     * clay
     * clay loam
     * loam

Step 4 (Test for loamy sand or silt)
     If the soil:
     * forms a ball
     * does not form a ribbon
     * and is
     H. very gritty
          Soil texture is loamy sand
or     I. very soft and smooth with no gritty feeling
          Soil texture is silt

Step 5 (Test for sand)
     If the soil:
     * forms no ball and falls apart in your hand
          Soil texture is sand