The Mason Jar Test (according to USDA)

Run a mason jar soil test to learn your sample’s texture. Enter the sand, silt, and clay layer heights and the calculator will estimate the soil class.




SoilTexture clay clay loam loam sandyclay sandy clayloam sandy loam loamysand sand siltyclay siltyclay loam silt loam silt Clay Separate (%) 100 - 90 - 80 - 70 - 60 - 50 - 40 - 30 - 20 - 10 - 0 - Silt Separate (%) - 0 - 10 - 20 - 30 - 40 - 50 - 60 - 70 - 80 - 90 - 100 Sand Separate (%) - 100 - 90 - 80 - 70 - 60 - 50 - 40 - 30 - 20 - 10 - 0 Heaviness unknown

The point does not fall inside any polygon.

How To

  1. Take the soil sample from the full profile (0-30cm).
  2. Rub it through coarse sieve.
  3. Fill a clear jar about one third with soil.
  4. Add water and a tbs of dishwasher powder leaving some headspace.
  5. Shake vigorously to suspend all particles for a minute or two.
  6. Let the jar sit undisturbed for 24 hours.
  7. Measure the sand, silt and clay layers as shown below.
|                         |
|-------------------------| ← Clay level [mm]
|        Clay             |
|-------------------------| ← Silt level [mm]
|        Silt             |
|-------------------------| ← Sand level [mm]
|        Sand             |
|-------------------------| ← 0 mm (Bottom)

Step-by-step photo guide

Taking a soil sample from the field profile Soil sample collected in a container
Take the soil sample from the full profile (0-30 cm).
Sieving soil through a coarse sieve
Rub it through a coarse sieve.
Adding soil to a clear jar
Fill a clear jar about one-third with soil.
Soil suspension settling in a jar
Add water with a tablespoon of dishwasher powder, shake well, then let the jar settle for 24 hours.
Measuring the separated soil layers in the jar
Measure the sand, silt, and clay levels.