Simple Test To Determine The Soil Type - Rain Bird ESP-SMT Installation & Operation Manual

Simple Test To Determine The Soil Type

1. Remove 1 to 2 cups of soil at the approximate root
depth of the plant material you plan to irrigate
2. Place the soil into a glass jar in which you can see the
contents (a Mason jar or an empty mayonnaise jar
works well)
3. Fill the balance of the glass jar with water.
4. Screw the cover onto the jar and shake vigorously
until all of the soil particles are suspended in the
water.
5. Set the closed jar onto a flat surface and let sit until
most of the soil particles have settled to the bottom
of the jar (this can take a few hours).
The settled soil will be deposited in layers with the
heavier soil particles (sand) forming the bottom layer,
followed by the next heaviest soil particles (silt), and
finally the lightest soil particles (clay).
6. Measure the total height of all the soil layers
combined.
7. Measure the height of each of the three individual
soil layers (sand, silt and clay) and compare these
values to the total soil height to get an approximate
percentage of each soil type.
8. Apply these percentages to the Soil Classification
Triangle on the adjacent page to identify the Soil
Type description.
1/2"
3" TOTAL
2"
HEIGHT
1/2"
Example: Total Soil Height = 3 inches.
The soil is comprised of the following:
• Clay; ½ inch (0.5/3.0) = 17%
• Silt; 2 inches (2.0/3.0) = 66%
• Sand; ½ inch (0.5/3.0) = 17%
Apply these values to the Soil Classification Triangle on the
next page to determine the soil type description.
ESP-SMT Smart Modular Control System
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