Question

Arrange the following forms of soil consistencies with decreasing soil wetness:
(A) Hard
(B) Friable/Soft
(C) Plastic
(D) Viscous
(E) Sticky

• A. (A), (B), (C), (D), (E)
• B. (A), (B), (C), (E), (D)
• C. (B), (A), (E), (D), (C)
• D. (D), (E), (C), (B), (A)

Hint:

Understanding soil moisture status helps identify consistency states in the field.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

With decreasing soil wetness, the sequence starts from viscous (high moisture), to sticky, plastic, friable, and ends with hard, which is driest.

Answer 2

Reasoning from the moisture-tension continuum:
Soil consistency changes continuously as water content falls, and can be placed on a single wetness gradient. At the wettest end, soil particles are essentially suspended in excess water and the mass flows without holding a shape, the viscous state. As some water is lost, the mass becomes cohesive enough to be moulded and to adhere strongly to tools and fingers, the sticky state. Losing further water, the soil can be reshaped without cracking or springing back, the plastic state. Drier still, aggregates crumble easily under gentle pressure, the friable or soft state, typically near field capacity. At the driest end, with almost no plant-available water left, the soil resists deformation and breaks with a hard fracture, the hard state. Ordering these from wettest to driest gives Viscous, Sticky, Plastic, Friable, Hard, that is (D), (E), (C), (B), (A), confirming option 4.