Simplified Method for Soil Particle‐Size Determination to Accompany Soil‐Quality Analyses

• DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2001.653849x
• Publication Date: 2010-07-27T23:12:57Z
• Authors: T.A. Kettler; J.W. Doran; T.L. Gilbert
• Keywords: Silt; Soil texture; Soil test; Soil Quality; Coefficient of variation

Soil textural analysis is a key component of any minimum data set used for assessing soil quality and sustainability agricultural-management practices. However, conventional methods can be costly time-consuming. The objective this study was to develop rapid simple method evaluating particle-size distribution, which could employed as tool initial soil-quality assessment. uses combination sieving sedimentation steps designed in conjunction with particulate organic matter (POM), or stand-alone analysis. Soils varied texture organic-matter content were collected from six sites the Great Plains. Their sand, silt, clay contents determined using proposed standard hydrometer pipette techniques. Averaged across all soils, absolute differences between analyses <2% clay. Relative 6, −1, −4% clay, respectively. Coefficients variation within samples averaged <5% fractions. Regression produced coefficient determination (r2) values 0.99, 0.98, 0.93 respectively, 0.98 ranges. provides an inexpensive reliable estimate texture, useful