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Custom Soil Resource Report <br /> Soil Physical Properties <br /> This folder contains a collection of tabular reports that present soil physical <br /> properties. The reports (tables) include all selected map units and components for <br /> each map unit. Soil physical properties are measured or inferred from direct <br /> observations in the field or laboratory. Examples of soil physical properties include <br /> percent clay, organic matter, saturated hydraulic conductivity, available water <br /> capacity, and bulk density. <br /> Physical Soil Properties <br /> This table shows estimates of some physical characteristics and features that affect <br /> soil behavior. These estimates are given for the layers of each soil in the survey <br /> area. The estimates are based on field observations and on test data for these and <br /> similar soils. <br /> Depth to the upper and lower boundaries of each layer is indicated. <br /> Particle size is the effective diameter of a soil particle as measured by <br /> sedimentation, sieving, or micrometric methods. Particle sizes are expressed as <br /> classes with specific effective diameter class limits. The broad classes are sand, <br /> silt, and clay, ranging from the larger to the smaller. <br /> Sand as a soil separate consists of mineral soil particles that are 0.05 millimeter to 2 <br /> millimeters in diameter. In this table, the estimated sand content of each soil layer is <br /> given as a percentage, by weight, of the soil material that is less than 2 millimeters <br /> in diameter. <br /> Silt as a soil separate consists of mineral soil particles that are 0.002 to 0.05 <br /> millimeter in diameter. In this table, the estimated silt content of each soil layer is <br /> given as a percentage, by weight, of the soil material that is less than 2 millimeters <br /> in diameter. <br /> Clay as a soil separate consists of mineral soil particles that are less than 0.002 <br /> millimeter in diameter. In this table, the estimated clay content of each soil layer is <br /> given as a percentage, by weight, of the soil material that is less than 2 millimeters <br /> in diameter. <br /> The content of sand, silt, and clay affects the physical behavior of a soil. Particle <br /> size is important for engineering and agronomic interpretations, for determination of <br /> soil hydrologic qualities, and for soil classification. <br /> The amount and kind of clay affect the fertility and physical condition of the soil and <br /> the ability of the soil to adsorb cations and to retain moisture. They influence shrink- <br /> swell potential, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), plasticity, the ease of soil <br /> dispersion, and other soil properties. The amount and kind of clay in a soil also <br /> affect tillage and earthmoving operations. <br /> Moist bulk density is the weight of soil (ovendry) per unit volume. Volume is <br /> measured when the soil is at field moisture capacity, that is, the moisture content at <br /> 1/3-or 1/1 0-bar(33kPa or 10kPa) moisture tension. Weight is determined after the <br /> soil is dried at 105 degrees C. In the table, the estimated moist bulk density of each <br /> soil horizon is expressed in grams per cubic centimeter of soil material that is less <br /> than 2 millimeters in diameter. Bulk density data are used to compute linear <br /> 32 <br />