DIY: Use a Jar Test to Test Your Own Soil

A jar test is a very simple soil test. By following these instructions, you will know exactly what your soil is made up of.

If you plan to do any work involving the dirt in your yard, you need to know exactly what it is. How much of it is sand or clay? These are important factors in building, gardening, drainage, mixing adobe, and a variety of other projects you may have in mind.

Supplies You Will Need
1 quart jar with lid
½ quart soil sample
clean water
a ruler

1. Add the soil sample to the jar

2. Fill the jar with water, leaving about 1 inch of air at the top

3. Put the lid on the jar and shake up the contents until they are mixed thoroughly

4. Leave the jar to sit for 24 hours

After 24 hours, the contents of the jar will have settled. You will see several layers. The bottom layer is sand. Next is silt. Next is clay. Next is water. And at the top will be some floating debris or organic materials.

Organic
-
Water
-
Clay
-
Silt
-
Sand

If you need percentages;

1. Decide what measurement you want to use. You can use inches or centimeters, or anything you like.

2. It just has to be the same for everything.

3. Measure the jar.

4. Measure each layer.

5. Divide the measurement of the jar by 100

6. Write that number down. It's the key to this whole thing.

7. Now, multiply that key number by each of the layers. The answers will be the percentage of your soil made up of each layer.

Ta Da! You've just tested your own soil, and determined to a percentage what it consists of! Congratulations!

Sources:

http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/how-to/articles/hows-your-soil-texture.aspx
http://www.treeco.biz/Keenan/Jar%20test.htm