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Understanding Soil Bulk Density

Bulk density is defined as the dry weight of a unit volume of soil, expressed in grams per cubic centimeter. Soil bulk density normally ranges from 1.1 to 1.5 g/cm3 for medium to fine textured soils and 1.2 to 1.65 g/cm3 for coarse textured soils, but may be higher for alkaline saline soils. Soils with high bulk density inhibit root penetration and have low permeability and infiltration, as bulk density is inversely related to pore space. To measure bulk density, a soil sample is dried in an oven at 105°C until constant weight, then a volume is measured and weighed to calculate bulk density using the given formula.

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67 views1 page

Understanding Soil Bulk Density

Bulk density is defined as the dry weight of a unit volume of soil, expressed in grams per cubic centimeter. Soil bulk density normally ranges from 1.1 to 1.5 g/cm3 for medium to fine textured soils and 1.2 to 1.65 g/cm3 for coarse textured soils, but may be higher for alkaline saline soils. Soils with high bulk density inhibit root penetration and have low permeability and infiltration, as bulk density is inversely related to pore space. To measure bulk density, a soil sample is dried in an oven at 105°C until constant weight, then a volume is measured and weighed to calculate bulk density using the given formula.

Uploaded by

GajaNand Mallick
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

BULK DENSITY

Principle

The bulk density of the soil is defined as the dry weight of a unti volume of it, and it is
expressed as gm/cm
3
. Normally the bulk dinsity range from 1.1 to 1.5 gm/cm
3
for medium
to fine textured soil and from 1.2 to 1.65 gm/cm
3
for coarsetextured soil, nut it is slight
higher in case of alkaline saline soils. The soil with high bulk density are inhibitive to root
penetration, and have low permeability and in filtration. The bulk density is inversely
related to pore space of soil.

Method

Dry the soil sample in an oven at 105
0
C until a constant weight is attained. Transfer a little
dried soil to a measuring cylinder and not the volume. Record the weight of this volume of
soil on a balance.

Calculation

Bulk density (gm/cm
3
) = Weight of soil (gm) / Volume of soil (cm
3
)

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