The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 

in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national 

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all 

programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 

communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 

(voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of 

Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence 

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 

(voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

April 1998

Reprinted June 2005
Irrigation Water Management (IWM) is applying 

water according to crop needs in an amount that 

can be stored in the plant root zone of the soil.

The “feel and appearance method” is one of several 

irrigation scheduling methods used in IWM. It is a 

way of monitoring soil moisture to determine when 

to irrigate and how much water to apply. Applying too much water causes excessive runoff and/or 

deep percolation. As a result, valuable water is 

lost along with nutrients and chemicals, which may 

leach into the ground water.

The feel and appearance of soil vary with texture 

and moisture content. Soil moisture conditions can 

be estimated, with experience, to an accuracy of 

about 5 percent. Soil moisture is typically sampled 

in 1-foot increments to the root depth of the crop 

at three or more sites per field. It is best to vary 

the number of sample sites and depths according to 

crop, field size, soil texture, and soil stratification. 

For each sample the “feel and appearance method” 

involves:

1. Obtaining a soil sample at the selected depth 

using a probe, auger, or shovel.

2. Squeezing the soil sample firmly in your hand 

several times to form an irregularly shaped 

“ball”.

3. Squeezing the soil sample out of your hand 

between thumb and forefinger to form a ribbon.

3

4. Observing soil texture, ability to ribbon, firmness and surface roughness of ball, water glistening, loose soil particles, soil/water staining on 

fingers, and soil color. [Note: A very weak ball 

will disintegrate with one bounce of the hand. 

A weak ball disintegrates with two to three 

bounces.]

5. Comparing observations with photographs and/

or charts to estimate percent water available and 

the inches depleted below field capacity.

 Example:

Sample	 	 USDA	 AWC* for	 Soil Moisture	 Percent

Depth	 Zone	 Texture	 Zone	 Depletion**	 Depletion

6” 0-12” sandy loam 1.4” 1.0” 70

18” 12-24” sandy loam 1.4” .8” 55

30” 24-36” loam 2.0” .8” 40

 

42” 36-48” loam 2.0” .5” 25

 6.8” 3.1”

 

Result: A 3.1” net irrigation will refill the root zone. 

*Available Water Capacity

**Determined by “feel and appearance method”

Available Water Capacity (AWC) is the portion 

of water in a soil that can be readily absorbed by 

plant roots of most crops.

Soil Moisture Deficit (SMD) or Depletion is the 

amount of water required to raise the soil-water 

content of the crop root zone to field capacity.
Available Water Capacity 

0.6-1.2 inches/foot

Percent Available: Currently available soil moisture as a percent of available water capacity.

In./ft. Depleted: Inches of water currently needed 

to refill a foot of soil to field capacity.

Appearance of fine sand and 

loamy fine sand soils at 

various soil moisture 

conditions.

4

25-50 percent available 

0.9-0.3 in./ft. depleted

Slightly moist, forms a very weak ball with welldefined finger marks, light coating of loose and 

aggregated sand grains remains on fingers.

0-25 percent available 

1.2-0.5 in./ft. depleted

Dry, loose, will hold together if not disturbed, loose 

sand grains on fingers with applied pressure.

(Not pictured)

5

50-75 percent available 

0.6-0.2 in./ft. depleted

75-100 percent available 

0.3-0.0 in./ft. depleted

Moist, forms a weak ball with loose and aggregated 

sand grains on fingers, darkened color, moderate 

water staining on fingers, will not ribbon.

Wet, forms a weak ball, loose and aggregated sand 

grains remain on fingers, darkened color, heavy 

water staining on fingers, will not ribbon.

100 percent available

0.0 in./ft. depleted (field capacity)

Wet, forms a weak ball, moderate to heavy 

soil/water coating on fingers, wet outline of soft 

ball remains on hand. (Not pictured)
6

Appearance of sandy loam and 

fine sandy loam soils at 

1various soil moisture 

conditions.

Available Water Capacity 

1.3-1.7 inches/foot

Percent Available: Currently available soil moisture as a percent of available water capacity.

In./ft. Depleted: Inches of water currently needed 

to refill a foot of soil to field capacity.

0-25 percent available 

1.7-1.0 in./ft. depleted

Dry, forms a very weak ball, aggregated soil grains 

break away easily from ball. (Not pictured)

25-50 percent available 

1.3-0.7 in./ft. depleted

Slightly moist, forms a weak ball with defined 

finger marks, darkened color, no water staining on 

fingers, grains break away.

7

75-100 percent available 

0.4-0.0 in./ft. depleted

50-75 percent available 

0.9-0.3 in./ft. depleted

Moist, forms a ball with defined finger marks, very 

light soil/water staining on fingers, darkened color, 

will not slick.

Wet, forms a ball with wet outline left on hand, 

light to medium staining on fingers, makes a weak 

ribbon between the thumb and forefinger.

100 percent available 

0.0 in./ft. depleted (field capacity)

Wet, forms a soft ball, free water appears briefly on 

soil surface after squeezing or shaking, medium to 

heavy soil/water coating on fingers. (Not pictured)
8

Appearance of sandy clay 

loam, loam, and silt loam 

soils at various soil moisture 

conditions.

Available Water Capacity 

1.5-2.1 inches/foot

Percent Available: Currently available soil moisture as a percent of available water capacity.

In./ft. Depleted: Inches of water needed to refill 

a foot of soil to field capacity.

25-50 percent available 

1.6-0.8 in./ft. depleted

0-25 percent available 

2.1-1.1 in./ft. depleted

Dry, soil aggregations break away easily, no 

staining on fingers, clods crumble with applied 

pressure. (Not pictured)

Slightly moist, forms a weak ball with rough 

surfaces, no water staining on fingers, few 

aggregated soil grains break away.

9

50-75 percent available 

1.1-0.4 in./ft. depleted

75-100 percent available 

0.5-0.0 in./ft. depleted

Moist, forms a ball, very light staining on fingers, 

darkened color, pliable, forms a weak ribbon between 

the thumb and forefinger.

Wet, forms a ball with well-defined finger marks, 

light to heavy soil/water coating on fingers, ribbons 

between thumb and forefinger.

100 percent available 

0.0 in./ft. depleted (field capacity)

Wet, forms a soft ball, free water appears briefly on 

soil surface after squeezing or shaking, medium to 

heavy soil/water coating on fingers. (Not pictured)
Appearance of clay, clay 

loam, and silty clay loam soils 

at various soil moisture 

conditions.

Available Water Capacity 

1.6-2.4 inches/foot

Percent Available: Currently available soil moisture as a percent of available water capacity.

In./ft. Depleted: Inches of water needed to refill a 

foot of soil to field capacity.

0-25 percent available 

2.4-1.2 in./ft. depleted

Dry, soil aggregations separate easily, clods are hard 

to crumble with applied pressure. (Not pictured)

25-50 percent available 

1.8-0.8 in./ft. depleted

Slightly moist, forms a weak ball, very few soil 

aggregations break away, no water stains, clods 

flatten with applied pressure.

10

Scan 11 FPO

Scan 12 FPO

11

50-75 percent available 

1.2-0.4 in./ft. depleted

Moist, forms a smooth ball with defined finger 

marks, light soil/water staining on fingers, ribbons 

between thumb and forefinger.

Wet, forms a ball, uneven medium to heavy 

soil/water coating on fingers, ribbons easily 

between thumb and forefinger.

100 percent available 

0.0 in./ft. depleted (field capacity)

Wet, forms a soft ball, free water appears on soil 

surface after squeezing or shaking, thick soil/water 

coating on fingers, slick and sticky. (Not pictured)

75-100 percent available 

0.6-0.0 in./ft. depleted
1

 Ball is formed by squeezing a hand full of soil very firmly with one hand.

2

 Ribbon is formed when soil is squeezed out of hand between thumb and forefinger.

GUIDE FOR ESTIMATING SOIL MOISTURE CONDITIONS

0-25

25-50

50-75

75-100

0.6-1.2 1.3-1.7 1.5-2.1 1.6-2.4

Soil Moisture Deficit (SMD) in inches per foot when the feel and appearance of the soil are as described.

Coarse Texture– 

Fine Sand and Loamy Fine Sand

Moderately Coarse Texture–

Sandy Loam and Fine Sandy Loam

Medium Texture–Sandy Clay Loam,

Loam, and Silt Loam

Fine Texture–Clay, Clay Loam, or

Silty Clay Loam

Available 

Soil Moisture 

Percent

Dry, forms a very weak ball,1 aggregated soil grains break away 

easily from ball. 

SMD 1.7 - 1.0

Dry, loose, will hold together if 

not disturbed, loose sand grains 

on fingers with applied pressure. 

SMD 1.2 - 0.5

Available Water Capacity (Inches/Foot)

Dry, soil aggregations break 

away easily, no moisture staining on fingers, clods crumble 

with applied pressure. 

SMD 2.1 - 1.1

Dry, soil aggregations easily separate, clods are hard to 

crumble with applied pressure.

 

SMD 2.4 - 1.2 

Slightly moist, forms a very 

weak ball with well-defined 

finger marks, light coating of 

loose and aggregated sand grains 

remain on fingers. 

 SMD 0.9 - 0.3

Slightly moist, forms a weak 

ball with defined finger marks, 

darkened color, no water staining 

on fingers, grains break away.

 

 SMD 1.3 - 0.7 

Slightly moist, forms a weak ball 

with rough surfaces, no water 

staining on fingers, few aggregated soil grains break away. 

 SMD 1.6 - 0.8

Slightly moist, forms a weak 

ball, very few soil aggregations break away, no water 

stains, clods flatten with applied 

pressure. 

SMD 1.8 - 0.8

Moist, forms a weak ball with 

loose and aggregated sand grains 

on fingers, darkened color, 

moderate water staining on 

fingers, will not ribbon.2 

 

 SMD 0.6 - 0.2 

Moist, forms a ball with defined 

finger marks, very light soil/water 

staining on fingers, darkened 

color, will not slick. 

 

 SMD 0.9 - 0.3

Moist, forms a ball, very light 

water staining on fingers, 

darkened color, pliable, forms a 

weak ribbon between thumb and 

forefinger. 

 SMD 1.1- 0.4

Moist, forms a smooth ball 

with defined finger marks, light 

soil/water staining on fingers, 

ribbons between thumb and 

forefinger. 

 

SMD 1.2 - 0.4 

Wet, forms a weak ball, loose and 

aggregated sand grains remain 

on fingers, darkened color, heavy 

water staining on fingers, will 

not ribbon. 

 

 SMD 0.3 - 0.0

Wet, forms a ball with wet outline left on hand, light to medium 

water staining on fingers, makes 

a weak ribbon between thumb 

and forefinger. 

 

 SMD 0.4 - 0.0

Wet, forms a ball with well 

defined finger marks, light to 

heavy soil/water coating on 

fingers, ribbons between thumb 

and forefinger. 

 

 SMD 0.5 - 0.0

Wet, forms a ball, uneven medium to heavy soil/water coating 

on fingers, ribbons easily 

between thumb and forefinger. 

 

SMD 0.6 - 0.0

Wet, forms a weak ball, moderate 

to heavy soil/water coating on 

fingers, wet outline of soft ball 

remains on hand. 

 

 SMD 0.0

Field Capacity

(100 percent)

Wet, forms a soft ball, free 

water appears on soil surface 

after squeezing or shaking, thick 

soil/water coating on fingers, 

slick and sticky. 

 

 SMD 0.0

Wet, forms a soft ball, free 

water appears briefly on soil 

surface after squeezing or 

shaking, medium to heavy 

soil/water coating on fingers. 

 

 SMD 0.0

Wet, forms a soft ball, free water 

appears briefly on soil surface 

after squeezing or shaking, medium to heavy soil/water coating 

on fingers. 

 SMD 0.0
SOIL TEXTURE BY FEEL FLOW CHART Texture Classification:

C = Coarse

MC = Moderately Coarse

M = Medium

F = Fine

START

Place approximately two teaspoons of soil in your palm. Add a few 

drops of water and kneed soil to break down all the aggregates. 

Soil is at proper consistency when it feels plastic and moldable, like 

moist putty. 

Add dry soil to 

soak up water 

Does the soil remain in a ball 

when squeezed? Is the soil too dry? Is the soil too wet?

Sand 

G

Place ball of soil between thumb and forefinger, 

gently pushing the soil with your thumb, squeezing it upward into a ribbon. Form a ribbon of 

uniform thickness and width. Allow the ribbon 

to emerge and extend over forefinger, breaking 

from its own weight. 

Does the soil form 

a ribbon?

NO Loamy 

sand

G

YES 

NO

YES

0-10% NO

YES 

Does soil make a weak 

ribbon < 1” long before 

it breaks?

NO

YES

Does soil make a medium

ribbon 1-2” long before 

it breaks?

NO

YES 

Does soil make a strong 

ribbon > 2” long before 

it breaks?

YES

0-15%

Excessively wet a small 

pinch of soil in your 

palm and rub it with your 

forefinger

Sandy 

Loam

MG

NO 

YES Does soil feel very 

gritty

Sandy 

Clay Loam 

F

Sandy 

Clay Loam

F

YES 

YES 

NO 

Silt 

Loam

M

Does soil feel very 

smooth?

YES 

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

NO 

NO 

NO 

NO 

Silty 

Clay Loam

F

Silty 

Clay Loam

F

Loam

M

Neither gritty nor smooth Clay 

Loam 

F

Clay 

F

 Sand paricle size should be estimated (very fine, fine, medium, coarse) for these textures. Individual 

grains of very fine sand are not visible without magnification and there is a gritty feeling to a very small 

sample ground between teeth. Some find sand particles may be just visible. Medium sand particles are easily 

visible. Examples of sand size descriptions where one size is predominate are: very fine sand, fine sandy 

loam, and loamy coarse sand.

0-20%

0-27%

7-27%

20-35%

27-40%

27-40%

35-55%

40-60%

40-100%

 Clay percentage range

 Modified from: Thien, Steve J., Kansas State University, 1979 Jour. Agronomy Education.

Photo Credit: R. Weil, University of Maryland

2

1

1

2

3

1 

NO

3

1

YES

Excessively wet a small 

pinch of soil in your 

palm and rub it with your 

forefinger

Excessively wet a small 

pinch of soil in your 

palm and rub it with your 

forefinger

Does soil feel very 

gritty

Does soil feel very 

smooth?

Neither gritty nor smooth

Does soil feel very 

gritty

Does soil feel very 

smooth?

Neither gritty nor smooth