Appearance of fine sand and loamy fine sand soils at various soil moisture conditions.

Available Water Capacity = 0.6-1.2 inches/foot:

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

In/ft. Depleted: Inches of water currently needed to refill a foot of soil to field capacity.

0-25 percent available 1.2-0.5 in./ft. depleted:  Dry, loose, will hold together if not disturbed, loose sand grains on fingers with applied pressure. (Not pictured)

25-50 percent available 0.9-0.3 in./ft. depleted (Figure 1):  Slightly moist, forms a very weak ball with well- defined finger marks, light coating of loose and aggregated sand grains remains on fingers.

Figure 1

50-75 percent available 0.6-0.2 in./ft. depleted (Figure 2):  Moist, forms a weak ball with loose and aggregated sand grains on fingers, darkened color, moderate water staining on fingers, will not ribbon.

Figure 2

75-100 percent available 0.3-0.0 in./ft. depleted (Figure 3):  Wet, forms a weak ball, loose and aggregated sand grains remain on fingers, darkened color, heavy water staining on fingers, will not ribbon.

Figure 3

100 percent available 0.0 in./ft. depleted (field capacity):  Wet, forms a weak ball, moderate to heavy soil/water coating on fingers, wet outline of soft ball remains on hand. (Not pictured)