Physical Properties of Soil

PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES
OF THE SOIL
• Texture:
• Texture refers to the relative proportions of
particles of various sizes such as sand, silt and
clay in the soil.
• The proportions of the separates in classes
commonly used in describing soils are given in
the textural triangle shown in Fig
• In the field, soil texture could be estimated by
the following methods
• (i) Feel method. In this method, the soil is

moistened with water and rubbed between
the thumb and fingers. The way the wet soil
“slicks out” gives a good idea of the clay
content. The sand particles are gritty, the silt
has a floury or talcum - powder fell when dry
and is only moderately plastic and sticky when
wet. Accuracy of this method depends largely
on experience.
• (ii) Ball and ribbon method: Take a handful of
soil and wet it so that it begins to stick together
without sticking to the hand. A ball of about 3
cm diameter is made and put down. If it falls
apart it is sand. If it sticks together roll the ball
into a sausage shape 6 – 7 cm long. If it does
not remain in this form it is loamy sand. If it
remains in this shape, continue to roll until it
reaches 15 – 16 cm long. If it does not remain
in this form, it is sandy loam. If it remains in
this shape, try to bend the sausage into a half
circle and if it doesn't, it is a loam. If it does,
bend the sausage to form a full circle and if it
doesn't it is heavy loam. If it does with slight
cracks in the sausage, it is light clay. If it does
without any cracks, it is a clay.
• (iii) Ball throwing method: The texture of the
soil can be inferred by the way a ball of soil
acts when it is thrown at a hard surface such as
a wall or a tree. Throw a ball of soil to a tree or
wall 3 m away. If the soil is good only for
splatter shots when either wet or dry, it has a
coarse texture (loamy sand). If there is a “shot
gun” pattern when dry and it holds its shape
against medium range target when wet, it has a
moderately coarse texture (sandy loam).
• Structure: Structure refers to the aggregation
of primary soil particles (sand, silt and clay)
into compound particles or cluster of primary
particles which are seperated by the adjoining
aggregates by surfaces of weakness. Structure
modifies the effect of texture in regard to
moisture and air relationships, availability of
nutrients, action of microorganisms and root
growth. E.g. a highly plastic clay (60% clay)
is good for crop product if it has a well
developed granular structure which facilitates
aeration and water movement.
• Structure is defined in terms of grade, class
and
• Grade: Grade of structure is the degree of
aggregation and expresses the differential
between cohesion within aggregates and
adhesion between aggregates. type of a
• Class: The Class of structure describes the
average size of individual aggregates
and Type describe their form or shape
aggregates. he various class divisions are: very
fine or very thin, fine or thin, medium, coarse
or thick and very coarse or very thick.
• Consistence: is the resistance of a soil to
deformation or rupture and is determined by the
cohesive and adhesive properties of the soil
mass. This is a term used to designate the
manifestation of the cohesive and adhesive
properties of soil at various moisture contents.
Consistence is described for three moisture levels:
- Wet soil - non sticky, slightly sticky, sticky, very
sticky; non plastic, slightly plastic, plastic and very
plastic.
- Moist soil - loose, very friable, friable, firm, very
firm, extremely firm.
- Dry soil - loose, soft, slightly hard, hard, very
hard, extremely hard.
• Bulk density
of soil is the mass of soil per unit volume of soil
(volume includes both soil and pores) -
expressed in g/c.c.
• Pore space: Water and air movements through

soil depends on the pore space and the size
distribution of the pores (microPores and
macropores). Lower the pore space or higher
the bulk density of the soil, the higher the
suitability of the soil
• Atterberg limits:Atterberg limits correspond to
the moisture content at which a soil sample
changes it's consistence from one state to the other.
Liquid limit (LL) and plastic limit (PL) are two
important states of consistence. Liquid limit is the
percentage moisture content at which a soil
changes with decreasing wetness from the liquid
to the plastic consistence or with increasing
wetness from the plastic to the liquid consistence,
whereas the plastic limit is the percentage
moisture content at which a soil changes with
decreasing wetness from the plastic to the semi-
solid consistence or from the semi-solid to the
plastic consistence.
• Soil colour:
Soil colour gives an indication of the various

processes going-on in the soil as well as the type of
minerals in the soil. For example the red colour in
the soil is due to the abundance of iron oxide under
oxidised conditions (well-drainage) in the soil; dark
colour is generally due to the accumulation of highly
decayed organic matter; yellow colour is due to
hydrated iron oxides and hydroxide
• Soil permeability:
is the ability of the soil to transmit water and air. An
impermeable soil is good for aquaculture as the water
loss through seepage or infiltration is low. As the soil
layers or horizons vary in their characteristics, the
permeability also differs from one layer to another.
Pore size, texture, structure and the presence of
impervious layers such as clay pan determines the
permeability of a soil. Clayey soils with platy
structures have very low permeability.
Permeability is measured in terms of permeability
rate or coefficient of permeability

Physical Properties of Soil

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What are the different methods to determine soil texture?

What factors affect soil structure?

PHYSICAL

• (i) Feel method. In this method, the soil is

• Pore space: Water and air movements through

Soil colour gives an indication of the various

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