Soil Factors
Texture
Soil texture refers to the relative proportion of sand, silt, and clay particles in a specific soil mass. It is easiest to determine when the soil is moist. Sand feels gritty when rubbed by the finger. Silt feels slick or velvety. Clay is usually sticky and plastic when wet and when pinched between the thumb and finger forms a flexible ribbon.

The surface texture is normally determined from at least plow depth or 6 inches, however, erosion may have removed the surface to such an extent that only 1 or 2 inches may remain. For contests, a boxed sample of surface soil and subsoil will be provided to judge texture.

In soils, several subdivisions of texture are recognized and are illustrated below. For land judging we recognize five texture categories represented by the middle column of the accompanying table. 

Coarse-textured soils are loose, very friable, and the individual grains can be readily seen or felt. When squeezed between thumb and forefinger, it feels gritty and will not ribbon or stain fingers. Squeezed when dry, it will fall apart as pressure is released. When moist, a mold may be formed which is unstable and crumbles as the soil is handled.

Moderately coarse-textured soils feel gritty but contain enough silt and clay to make moist soil hold together. The individual sand grains can readily be seen and felt. Squeezed when dry, it will form a mold which breaks readily upon handling. If squeezed when moist, a mold can be formed which can be carefully handled without breaking. It forms no ribbon or very poor ribbon.

Medium-textured soils have a slightly smooth or velvety feel when moist. Squeezed when dry, it forms a mold that will bear careful handling. The mold formed by squeezing when moist can be handled freely, without breaking. When the moistened soil is squeezed out between thumb and forefinger, it will form a poor ribbon with a dull surface.

Moderately fine-textured soils usually break into clods or lumps when dry. When the moist soil is squeezed out between thumb and forefinger, it crushes with some effort. It will form a short (1 inch to 2 inch) well-formed ribbon with a shiny surface which will tend to break or the ribbon will bend downward. The sandy clay loam texture has a slightly gritty feel when moist.

Fine-textured soils form very hard, massive lumps or clods when dry and are quite plastic and sticky when wet. When the moist soil is squeezed out between thumb and forefinger it crushes with considerable effort and will form a long (2 inch+) ribbon which will support itself. The sandy clay texture may also have a slightly gritty feel when moist.

Texture Groups

Sandy Soils	Coarse	Sand Loamy sand
Loamy Soils	Moderately coarse	Sandy loam Fine sandy loam
	Medium	Very fine sandy loam Loam Silt loam Silt
	Moderately fine	Clay loam Sandy clay loam Silty clay loam
Clay Soils	Fine	Sandy clay Silty clay Clay