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SOILS - Laboratory 5

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17 views

SOILS - Laboratory 5

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may
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CPUCARES

Soils 2201
Lab. Exercise No. 5

Study of Soil Density and Porespace

I. Objective:

To become familiar with the determination and significance of bulk density,


particle density and porespace.

II. Procedure:

Separate soil sample will be used by each group. The data from each will be
shared for the whole class.

1. Bulk density – Weigh a 100 ml graduated cylinder. Fill one fourth full (25 ml) mark
with 20 mesh soil. Compact the soil by dropping the cylinder 5 times from a height of
two inches to several thickness of paper toweling spread on the desk top. Fill the
cylinder to the 75 ml mark and compact again. Finally, fill the cylinder to the 100 ml
mark and compact once more. Read the volume of the soil in the cylinder.

Weigh the cylinder plus soil. Dry the soil in the oven for 24 hours and obtain the
oven-dry weight. Calculate the bulk density of the soil.

Bulk density = __ _ Weight of soil = g/cc


Vol. of soil (air + solid)

1. Particle Density – Fill a 100 ml cylinder to the 50 ml mark with water. Add 20 g of
oven-dried soil, stir and allow to stand for 10 minutes. Read the volume of soil plus
water. The difference between this value and the initial value of 50 ml represents the
volume of water displaced and now occupied by the soil particles. Calculate the
particle density.

Particle density = Weight of soil = g/cc

Vol. of soil (solid)

2. Porespace – Fill a 100 ml cylinder to the 70 ml mark with tap water. Slowly pour soil
(50 ml vol) into the cylinder. Stir the mixture with a stirring rod and let it stand for 5
minutes to allow the air to escape. Record the final volume of the soil-water
suspension. Make your reading at the top of the liquid. Calculate the percent total
porespace.

% Porespace = (Vol. of water + soil) – (Vol of soil-water mixture_ x 100

Volume of soil

CPUCARES

Soils 2201 Lab. Exercise 5, page 2 -- Study of Soil Density and Porespace

I. Questions for study and discussion


1. Tabulate the results and discuss differences among soil types or textural names.

2. What are some reasons why long cropped soils generally have higher bulk densities
than soils never disturbed by man?

3. How do the following factors affect bulk density of any soil?


1. organic matter
2. texture
3. compaction

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