Particle-size distribution (PSD)
Definition
The proportion by mass of soil particles falling within each size fraction. Expressed as a curve or a table of percentages, and the central analytical output of particle-size analysis.
Related terms
- Hydrometer method
- A sedimentation technique that uses Stokes' Law to determine the proportion of silt and clay from the rate at which particles settle...
- Laser diffraction
- An instrumental method where a dispersed sample passes through a laser beam and the angular diffraction pattern is inverted to produce a...
- Ribbon test
- A field method for estimating texture by wetting a small amount of soil and extruding it between thumb and finger. The length...
- Sieve analysis
- Mechanical separation of soil particles by passing a dried, dispersed sample through a stack of sieves with calibrated apertures from 2 mm...
- Textural triangle
- A ternary diagram with sand, silt, and clay at the three apices. A point plotted from the measured percentages of those three...
Explained in
- Particle Size and Texture AnalysisThe proportion by mass of soil particles falling within each size fraction. Expressed as a curve or a table of percentages, and the central analytical output o...