Fifty shades of Soil Characterisation

April 8, 2015

Fifty shades of soil characterisation using our soil classification sets! For onsite investigations down to 2 metres a set may consist of a combination auger, liner samplers and soil sample containers. The acidity or pH of a soil is determined using a pH-indicator, with a range of 4 to 9 it gives a universal reading accurate to 0.5. To determine the physical qualities of a soil a pocket interchange sieve set, a sand ruler, a portable electronic balance, a soil colour identification chart, a pocket penetrometer, vane shear tester and knife are also included.

The determination of a subgroup in the soil classification system is based on soil colour differences. The colour of the soil is determined by comparing the sample with a Munsell standard soil colour chart.

Munsell Soil Color Charts offer an affordable, easy way to evaluate and classify the color of a soil. The soil colour indicates the makeup of the soil within a given geographic area, which can influence the land’s fitness for use, such as wetlands, optimum crops to plant, viability for waste water systems and other uses. For archeological applications, the Munsell Soil Colour Book helps archeologists classify artifacts based on the color of soil found nearby. The Munsell soil chart has been used for more than 55 Years to classify the color of soil.

Soil color charts support the management and stewardship of natural resources.   Practitioners from a variety of disciplines use Munsell soil color charts to reliably and consistently share information about the color of soils with colleagues throughout the world. A wide variety of industries and disciplines use these colour books including academia, forestry, forensics, environmental and soil science, building and contracting, landscaping, real estate, health departments, geology and archaeology.

To review our range of soil characteristion equipment click here or call us on +44 (0)1428 661 660.