How should soils be rated from loose to cohesive?

The correct sequence for rating soils from loose to cohesive is based on their texture and how tightly the particles are bound together. Loose soils, such as sandy soils, have larger particles that do not bind closely, allowing water and air to move freely among them. Following this, sandy loams have a medium texture with a balance of sand, silt, and clay, offering more cohesion than loose sands but still not as cohesive as clay. Clay, particularly non-fissured sandy clay, is known for its cohesive properties due to tightly packed small particles and high plasticity when wet.

The pairing of layered soils with sandy loams and non-fissured sandy clay reflects the transition from a less cohesive soil structure (layered soil, which can vary widely based on composition) through to a more cohesive one in sandy loams and then to clay. This alignment indicates a progression from loose soil types to those with increasing cohesion, which is critical in various applications such as construction, agriculture, and environmental management.

This ranking helps in understanding soil behavior in engineering practices and agricultural applications, making it important for those involved in water distribution and soil management.