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Soil Science – Testing Soil

Join our 4-H teens as they step into the shoes of a soil scientist!

What are we learning about today?

Have you ever walked outside, looked down, and thought, "It's just dirt." Well, guess what? It's not just dirt – it's soil! And soil is a pretty big deal! It helps grow our food, gives plants a place to live, and even helps clean our water!

There are several types of soil, and each one feels and looks a little different!

  • Clay Soil – This soil has super tiny particles. It feels smooth and gets really sticky when it’s wet.

  • Sandy Soil – This one feels gritty, like you're holding beach sand. It’s made of tiny rocks and minerals.

  • Silty Soil – Silty soil is soft and slippery. It holds water well and doesn’t have many rocks.

  • Peaty Soil – This dark, spongy soil is full of old plants and organic matter. It’s great for growing things. You might know this type of soil as turf.

  • Loamy Soil – A mix of sand, silt, and clay. It’s soft and smooth, and it’s one of the best soils for growing plants.

  • Chalky Soil – Light-colored and chunky, this soil has lots of calcium. It can feel dry and crumbly.

But what is soil really? And how can we figure out what kind of soil we have? Let's dig into some soil science!

What do you need?soil in bowl and plant pot

  • A handful of soil
  • A cup of water
  • Your hands

Try it yourself!

  • Step 1: The Ball Test! Grab some soil and add water little by little. Try to form a ball with it. 
    • If it won't stick together at all, it's sandy soil.
    • If it holds a shape, move on to the next test.
  • Step 2: The Ribbon Test! Take your ball of soil and press it between your fingers to make a little ribbon. 
    • If it crumbles right away, it's loamy sand.
    • If you can stretch it more than an inch before it breaks, it has more clay in it.
    • The longer the ribbon, the more clay is in your soil. 
  • Step 3: The Texture Test! Take a pinch of soil, add a few drops of water, and rub it between your fingers.
    • Does it feel gritty? That means there's a lot of sand.soil in bowl
    • Does it feel super smooth? That means there's more silt.
    • Is it sticky? That means there's a lot of clay.

Open and print the supply and test list for yourself!

Learn more here!