United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 West Central Glaciated Soil Survey Region #10 Go to Accessibility Information
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Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Relation to Soil Texture

Saturated hydraulic conductivity rates shown are in relation to texture and are only a general guide.

Differences in bulk density may alter the rates shown below.

Soil Textural Classes & Related Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Classes
Texture Textural Class General Ksat Class Ksat Rate (µm/sec.)
Coarse sand Coarse Sandy V. rapid > 141.14
Sands

Loamy sands		 Coarse Sandy Rapid 42.34-141.14
Sandy loam

Fi.san.loam		 Mod. coarse Loamy Mod. Rapid 14.11-42.34
v. fi. sa. loam

loam

silt loam

silt		 Medium Loamy Moderate 4.23-14.11
clay loam

sa. cl. loam

si. cl. loam		 Mod. fine Loamy Mod. slow 1.41-4.23
sandy clay

silty clay

clay		 Fine and very fine Clayey Slow 0.42-1.41
Cd horizon Natric horizon, fragipan, ortstein V. slow or impermeable 0.00-0.42

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