Sandy loam and fine sandy loam soils

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

 

Available Soil Moisture Remaining Appearance of soil
0-25 percent available Dry, forms a very weak ball, aggregated soil grains break away easily from ball.
25-50 percent available

g690-05[1].jpg (15357 bytes)

Slightly moist, forms a weak ball with defined finger marks, darkened color, no water staining on fingers, grains break away.
50-75 percent available

g690-04[1].jpg (15055 bytes)

Moist, forms a ball with defined finger marks, very light soil/water staining on fingers, darkened color will not stick.
75-100 percent available

g690-06[1].jpg (14730 bytes)

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 Wet, forms a soft ball, free water appears briefly on soil surface after squeezing or shaking, medium to heavy soil/water coating on fingers.

Courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service,
Estimating Soil Moisture by Feel and Appearance (Program Aid 1619)