Soil Moisture Deficit (SMD) in inches per foot when the feel and
appearance of the soil are as described
| Available Soil Moisture Percent |
Coarse Texture |
Moderately Coarse Texture |
Medium Texture |
Fine Texture |
| Soil Texture |
Fine Sand and Loamy Fine Sand |
Sandy Loam and Fine Sandy Loam |
Sandy Clay Loam, Loam, and Silt Loam |
Clay, Clay Loam, or Silty Clay Loam |
| Available Soil Moisture Percent |
Available Water Capacity 0.6 to 1.2 inches per foot |
Available Water Capacity 1.3 to 1.7 inches per foot |
Available Water Capacity 1.5 to 2.1 inches per foot |
Available Water Capacity 1.6 to 2.4 inches per foot |
| 0 to 25 |
Dry, loose, will hold together if not disturbed, loose sand grains on
fingers with applied pressure.
SMD 1.2 to 0.5 |
Dry, forms a very weak ball, aggregated soil grains break away easily
from ball.
SMD 1.7 -1.0 |
Dry. Soil aggregations break away easily. no moisture staining on
fingers, clods crumble with applied pressure.
SMD 2.1-1.1 |
Dry, soil aggregations easily separate, clods are hard to crumble with
applied pressure
SMD 2.4-1.2 |
| 25 to 50 |
Slightly moist, forms a very weak ball with well-defined finger marks,
light coating of loose and aggregated sand grains remain on fingers.
SMD O.9-0.3 |
Slightly moist, forms a weak ball with defined finger marks, darkened
color, no water staining on fingers, grains break away.
SMD 1.3-0.7 |
Slightly moist, forms a weak ball with rough surfaces, no water staining
on fingers, few aggregated soil grains break away.
SMD1.6-0.8 |
Slightly moist, forms a weak ball, very few soil aggregations break
away, no water stains, clods flatten with applied pressure
SMD 1.8-0.8 |
| 50 to 75 |
Moist, forms a weak ball with loose and aggregated sand grains on
fingers, darkened color, moderate water staining on fingers, will not
ribbon.
SMD O.6-0.2 |
Moist, forms a ball with defined finger marks. very light soil/water
staining on fingers. darkened color, will not slick.
SMD O.9-0.3 |
Moist, forms a ball, very light water staining on fingers, darkened
color, pliable, forms a weak ribbon between thumb and forefinger.
SMD 1.1- 0.4 |
Moist. forms a smooth ball with defined finger marks, light soil/water
staining on fingers, ribbons between thumb and forefinger.
SMD l.2-0.4 |
| 75 to 100 |
Wet, forms a weak ball, loose and aggregated sand grains remain on
fingers, darkened color, heavy water staining on fingers, will not ribbon.
SMD O.3-0.0 |
Wet, forms a ball with wet outline left on hand, light to medium water
staining on fingers, makes a weak ribbon between thumb and forefinger.
SMD O.4-0.0 |
Wet, forms a ball with well defined finger marks, light to heavy
soil/water coating on fingers, ribbons between , thumb and forefinger.
SMD O.5 -0.0 |
Wet, forms a ball, uneven medium to heavy soil/water coating on fingers,
ribbons easily between thumb and forefinger.
SMD O.6-0.0 |
| Field Capacity (100 percent) |
Wet, forms a weak ball, moderate to heavy soil/water coating on fingers,
wet outline of soft ball remains on hand.
SMD 0.0 |
Wet, forms a soft ball, free water appears briefly on soil surface after
squeezing or shaking,medium to heavy soil/water coating on fingers.
SMD 0.0 |
Wet, forms a soft ball, free water appears briefly on soil surface after
squeezing or shaking, medium to heavy soil/water coating on fingers.
SMD 0.0 |
Wet, forms a soft ball, free water appears on soil surface after
squeezing or shaking, thick soil/water coating on fingers, slick and sticky.
SMD 0.0 |
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