Types of Soil Textural Classes

(1) The following soil textural classes apply to soil types of which they are composed: CLASS I Sands, Loamy Sands CLASS II Sandy Loams, Loams CLASS III Silt Loams, Sandy Clay Loams with less than 27% clay, Silt CLASS IV Clays, Silty Clay Loams, Sandy Clay Loams with 27% or more Clay, Clay Loams and Silty Clays (2) Textural Classifications are made based on the relative proportion of sand, silt and clay in the soils and in accordance with the following textural triangle: SOIL TEXTURAL TRIANGLE 15. 2 4 4: Ty pes o f Soi ls S a n d s : Soi l is 8 5 % o r mo r e san d a n d the per c e nta g e o f silt plu s 1.5 tim e s the percentage of clay is 15 or less. Loamy sands: At the upper limit soil is 85 to 90% sand and the percentage of silt plus 1.5 times the percentage of clay is 15 or less; at the lower limit, soil is 70 to 85% sand and the percentage of silt plus twice the percentage of clay is 30 or less. Sandy loams: Soil is 20% or less clay and 52% or more sand and the percentage of silt plus twice the percentage of clay exceeds 30; or soil is less than 7% clay, less than 50% silt, and between 43 and 52% sand. Loam: Soil is 7 to 27% clay, 28 to 50% silt, and less than 52% sand. Silt loam: Soil is 50% or more silt and 12 to 27% clay; or 50 to 80% silt and less than 12% clay. Silty clay loam: Soil is 27 to 40% clay and less than 20% sand. Clay: 40% or more clay, less than 45% sand, and less than 40% silt. Silt: 80% or more silt and less than 12% clay. Sandy clay loam: 20 to 35% clay, less than 28% silt, and more than 45% sand. Clay loam: 27 to 40% clay and 20 to 46% sand. Sandy clay: 35% or more clay and 45% or more sand.