Soil properties generally refer to inherent soil attributes, for example, soil texture, soil structure, soil pH and soil organic content.

Soil characteristics also refer to soil attributes but those that arise from the interaction of soil properties with the wider environment. For example, soil nutrient availability and soil moisture levels.

Soil quality refers are attributes related to the ability of a soil to perform its various ecological functions, for example, to support plant growth and maintain biodiversity. In essence, soil quality is a culmination of soil properties and soil characteristics.

The following table may help contrast the above differences:

• Soil properties, characteristics and qualities

• BS8545: Trees: from nursery to independence in the landscape
  Determination of soil texture by manual texture test schematic

• USDA
  Guide to texture by feel

• USDA
  Soil texture calculator

• ISRIC
  The Ultimate Soil Texture Flow Chart

• ExcelDemy
  How to plot a sieve particle analysis

• Wikicommons
  Soil texture triangle

• Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
  How to assess soil sturcture

• USDA
  Examples of Soil Structure types

• Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
  Soil pollution

• Forestry Commission (archive)
  Information Note 44: The opportunities for woodland on contaminated land