1.

SOIL SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

Apparatus : Metal cylinder and piston ( to dig out soil)
Procedure : (a) Press the metal cylinder into soil.
(b) Using the piston, remove the soil sample Irom the cylinder.
2. DETERMINATION OF THE TEXTURE OF THE SOIL
Apparatus : 500 cm3 measuring cylinder
100 cm3 soil sample
300cm3 water
Procedure : (a) Add the soil sample to the measuring cylinder and cover with water.
(b) Shake the contents vigorously.
(c) Allow the mixture to settles out, according to density and surIace
area oI particles, Ior 48 hours.
(d) Measure the volume oI the various Iractions oI soil sample.
Formula :
% son coponn =
E o son
E o so sop
%
Results:
Components oI the soil
sample
Height oI each
components(cm)
Percentage oI each
components ()
Silk 0.5 3.85
Sand 2.7 20.77
Clay 4.3 33.08
Gravel 5.5 42.31
Silt 0.00 0.00
TOTAL 13.0 100.00

%ons =
0.5 cm
13.0cm
% = .8%% o =
4.3cm
13.0cm
% = .8%

% on =
.c
.c
% ro =
. c
. c
% = .%

Conclusion: The percentage oI stones is 3.85, sand is 20.77, clay is 33.08 and gravel is
42.31.
3. DETERMINATION OF WATER CONTENT OF SOIL
Apparatus : Aluminum Ioil pie dish
Balance
Oven
Desiccators
Tongs
Thermometer
Material : 80 gm soil
Procedure : (a) Weigh an aluminum Ioil pie dish while still empty. Record the mass (a).
(b) Add the broken-up soil sample to the pie dish and weigh. Record the
mass.
(c) Place the pie dish containing the soil sample in the oven at 110 C Ior 24
hours.
(d) Remove the sample Irom the oven and cool in a desiccators.
(e) Weigh the sample when cool, and record the mass.
(I) Return the sample to the oven at 110 C Ior a Iurther 24 hours.
(g) Repeat stages (d) and (e) until consistent weighings are recorded (constant
mass). Record the mass (c).
(h) Calculate the percentage water content as Iollows:
I c
I o
%
(i) Retain the soil sample in the desiccators Ior experiment 4.
Formula :
% or conn so =
o or
o so sop
%






Results:
Sample 1 2 3 4 Average
Mass oI
aluminium
Ioil(pie dish
only) (grams)
2.22 2.22 2.25 2.27 2.24
Mass oI
aluminium
Ioil(empty)
broken up soil
sample(grams)
78.70 71.24 82.06 81.96 78.49
Mass aIter
heated(grams)
58.53 61.43 66.21 64.46 62.66
Percentage oI
water content
oI soil()
19.86 14.21 26.37 21.96 20.60

% or conn (rop ) =
8. .
8. .
% = 9.8%
% or conn (rop ) =
. .
. .
% = .%
% or conn (rop ) =
8. 8.
8. .
% = .%
% or conn (rop ) =
8.9 .
8.9 .
% = .9%

ro % o or conn o so =
9.8 + . + . +.9

= . %
Conclusion: The percentage oI the water content in the soil sample is 20.60.







4. DETERMINATION OF ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT.
Apparatus : Desiccators and lid
Tripod
Bunsen burner
Asbestos mat
Fireclay triangle tongs
Material : Dried soil sample
Procedure : (a) Heat the crucible and lid strongly in the Bunsen Flame to remove
all traces oI moisture. Place in the desiccators to cool. Weigh and
record the mass (a).
(b) Add the dried soil sample (kept Irom the previous experiment )
Irom the desiccators and weigh. Record the mass (b).
(c) Heat the soil sample in the crucible, covered with the lid, to red-
heat Ior 1 hour to burn oII all the organic matter. Allow to cool Ior 10
min and remove to the desiccators.
(d) Weigh the crucible and sample when cool.
(e) Repeat (c) and (d) until constant mass is recorded.
(I) Calculate the percentage oI organic content as Iollow :
I c
I o
%
%g) Repeat the experiment on soil samples taken Irom diIIerent area to
demonstrate variation oI organic content.
Formula :

% o oronc coponn =
o oronc or
o so sop







Result :
Group 1 2 3 4
Initial mass of
crucible
(grams)
[a]
13.19 18.85 17.35 15.18
Mass of crucible
soil sample
(grams)
[b]
20.06 24.79 23.67 23.56
Mass after heated
(grams)
[c]
19.75 23.86 23.06 22.83
Percentage of
organic component
()
4.51 15.66 9.65 8.71

% o oronc coponn (rop ) =

. 9.
. .9
% = .%
% o oronc coponn (rop ) =
.9 .8
. 8.8
% = .%
% o oronc coponn (rop ) =
. .
. .
% = 9.%
% o oronc coponn (rop ) =
. .8
. .8
% = 8.%

ro % o oronc coponn =
. +. + 9. + 8.

= 9. %

Conclusion : The percentage oI the organic matter in the soil sample is 9.63.

5. Determination oI air content oI soil

Apparatus : Tin can oI volume about cm
3

c
3
beaker
Metal seeker

Material : Water

Procedure : (a) place the empty can open end uppermost into the c
3
beaker
and Iill the beaker with water above the level oI the can. Mark the
water level in the beaker.

(b) CareIully remove the can containing the water and measure this
volume oI water in a measuring cylinder. Record the volume (a). The
water level in the beaker will Iall by an amount corresponding to the
volume oI water in the can.

(c) PerIorate the base I the can using a drill, making about eight small
holes.

(d) Push the open end oI the can into the soil Irom which surIace
vegetation has been removed until soil begins to come through the
perIorations. Gently dig out the can, turn it over and remove soil
surIace until it is level with the top oI can.

(e) Place the can oI soil, with open end uppermost, gently back into the
beaker oI water and loosen the soil in the can with seeker to allow air
to escape.

(I) The water level in the beaker will be lower than the original level
because the water will be used to replace the air which was present in
the soil.

(g) Add water to the beaker Irom a Iill c
3
measuring cylinder
until the original level is restored. Record volume oI water added (b).

(h) The percentage air content oI the soil sample can be determined as
Iollows :
I
o
%

(i) Repeat the experiment on soil samples Irom diIIerent areas.




Formula :
% o o or n so sop
=
o o so sop o o so porcs (or r so)
o o so sop

=
o o or n so
o o so sop
%

Results :

Group
1 2 3
Jolume of soil sample
(c
3
)
[a]
175 250 445
Jolume of air in soil
(c
3
)
[b]
29 132 135
Percentage of air content
()
16.57 52.80 30.34

% o or conn (rop ) =
9c
3
c
3
% = .%
% o or conn (rop ) =
c
3
c
3
% = .8%
% o or conn (rop ) =
c
3
c
3
% = .%

ro % o or conn o so =
. + .8 +.

= . %

Conclusion : The percentage volume oI air in the soil sample is 33.24. Hence, it is
suitable Ior organisms to live.

6. Determination oI soil pH
Apparatus : Long test-tube
Test tube rack
Spatula
c
3
pipette

Material : Universal indicator
Procedure : (a) Add about c
3
oI soil to the test-tube and c
3
oI barium sulphate,
which ensures Ilocculation oI colloidal clay.

(b) Add c
3
oI distilled water and c
3
oI BHD universal indicator
solution. Seal the test tube with the bung. Shake vigorously and allow
contents to settle Ior 5 min.

(c) Compare the colour oI liquid in the test tube with the colour on the BHD
reIerence colour chart and read oII the corresponding pH.

(d) Repeat the experiment on soil samples Irom diIIerent areas.

Result :

$oil $ample 1
pH 6


Conclusion : The pH oI the soil is 6. This shows that the soil is slightly acidic.