Question

directions: using your soil texture chart and example, determine the following soil textures using the percentages given.
% sand % silt % clay soil texture
example 75 10 15 sandy loam
a) 35 _ 35 _
b) _ 35 50 _
c) _ 45 45 _
d) 50 10 _ _
e) 60 _30_ 10 _sandy clay loam_
now for a challenge!
f) 46 _ _ clay loam
g) _ _ 51 silty clay
h) _ _ _ loamy sand
i) _ _ _ silt loam

Explanation:

Step1: Recall that the sum of sand, silt and clay percentages in soil is 100%.

For part a), since the sum of sand (35%) and clay (35%) is 70%, the percentage of silt is $100 - 35 - 35=30$. To determine the soil - texture, one would use a soil - texture chart (not provided here, but generally based on these percentage ranges).
For part b), since the sum of silt (35%) and clay (50%) is 85%, the percentage of sand is $100 - 35 - 50 = 15$.
For part c), since the sum of silt (45%) and clay (45%) is 90%, the percentage of sand is $100 - 45 - 45=10$.
For part d), since the sum of sand (50%) and silt (10%) is 60%, the percentage of clay is $100 - 50 - 10 = 40$.
For part f), since the soil is clay - loam and sand is 46%, let the percentage of silt be $x$ and clay be $y$. In clay - loam, the general range of clay is 27 - 40% and sand is 20 - 52% and silt is 28 - 52%. If we assume a common distribution, and since $x + y+46 = 100$, we can assume $y = 30$ (within the clay - loam clay range), then $x=100 - 46 - 30 = 24$.
For part g), since the soil is silty - clay and clay is 51%, let the percentage of sand be $a$ and silt be $b$. In silty - clay, sand is 0 - 20%, silt is 20 - 50% and clay is 40 - 60%. If we assume $a = 10$, then $b=100 - 51 - 10 = 39$.
For part h), for loamy sand, sand is usually 70 - 90%, silt is 0 - 20% and clay is 0 - 15%. We can assume sand is 80%, silt is 10% and clay is 10% (values within the range).
For part i), for silt loam, silt is usually 50 - 80%, sand is 0 - 50% and clay is 0 - 27%. We can assume sand is 20%, silt is 70% and clay is 10% (values within the range).

Answer:

a) 30, (soil - texture determined by chart)
b) 15, (soil - texture determined by chart)
c) 10, (soil - texture determined by chart)
d) 40, (soil - texture determined by chart)
f) 24, 30
g) 10, 39
h) 80, 10, 10
i) 20, 70, 10