Relationships between field texture and particle-size distribution in Australia and their implications

This paper aims to establish the means and ranges of clay, silt, and sand contents from field texture classes, and to investigate the differences in the. eld texture classes and texture determined from particle- size analysis. The results of this paper have 2 practical applications: ( 1) to estimate the particle size distribution and its uncertainty from. eld texture as input to pedotransfer functions, and ( 2) to examine the criteria of texture contrast soils in the Australian Soil Classification system. Estimates of clay, silt, and sand content for each. eld texture class are given and this allows the. eld texture classes to be plotted in the texture triangle. There are considerable differences between. eld texture classes and particle- size classes. Based on the uncertainties in determining the clay content from. eld texture, we establish the probability of the occurrence of a texture contrast soil according to the Australian Soil Classification system, given the texture of the B2 horizon and its overlying A horizon.