SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

SOIL DENSITIES
& POROSITY
● Density represents mass
(weight) per unit volume
of a substance

► Density = Mass/Volume

● Soil density is
expressed in two well
accepted concepts as
particle density and bulk
density
• Soil Particle Density (PD) is
the mass per unit volume of
soil solids.
– Not affected by pore space
and does not change easily
– Not related to particle
size or to the arrangement
of particles (structure)
● The particle density is higher if
large amount of heavy minerals
such as magnetite; limonite and
hematite or iron oxides are
present in the soil

● With increase in organic matter of

the soil, the particle density
decreases

● Particle density is also termed

as true density
• Particle densities for
most mineral soils = 2.60
– 2.75 g/cm3
– Quartz, feldspar, micas,
and colloidal silicates
• Assumed PD of typical
mineral soils = 2.65 g/cm3.
• Bulk Density (BD) = mass of a unit
volume of dry soil, g/cm3
– Volume = solids + pores
• BD of common surface soils = 1.1 -
1.4 g/cm3
• BD of common subsoils = 1.3 - 1.7
g/cm3

● The bulk density of a soil is

always smaller than its particle
density
● Bulk density normally
decreases, as mineral soils
become finer in texture

● The bulk density varies

indirectly with the total
pore space present in the
soil and gives a good
estimate of the porosity of
the soil
● Bulk density is of greater
importance than particle
density in understanding the
physical behavior of the soil

● Generally, soils with low

bulk densities have
favorable physical
conditions
● Bulk density is not an
intrinsic property of a
material; it can change
depending on how the material
is handled

● The bulk density of soil

depends greatly on the mineral
make up of soil and the degree
of compaction
Assignment:

Write a reaction paper on the videos about the procedure for

determination of soil particle and bulk density (include also the
calculation procedure)

Arial 12
Surname, First Name AS2
Deadline: August 28
Factors affecting bulk density
● Pore space
► soils with high proportion of pore
space to solids have lower bulk
densities than those that are more
compact and have less pore space

► any factor that influences soil

pore space will affect bulk density
● Texture
► fine-textured surface soils such as
silt loams, clays and clay loams
generally have lower bulk densities
than sandy soils

► fine-textured soils tend to

organize in porous grains
especially because of adequate
organic matter content

► in sandy soils, the solid particles

lie close together , resulting to
higher bulk density
● Organic matter content
► the more organic matter content
in soil results in high pore
space, thereby shows lower bulk
density of soil and vice-versa

► Generally, subsoils have higher bulk

densities than the surface soils

► less aggregation, fewer roots,

compaction caused by overlying layers
Porosity

● volume of the pores divided by

the bulk volume.

%E = Vps/Vb x 100

or , it can be conveniently calculated

from the data of particle density and
bulk density as:

%E = (1-BD/PD) x 100
Porosity
● Soil porosity directly
influences soil water movement

● Size, shape, and

interconnection of
pore spaces are
more important
than the combined
volume, in
determining
drainage, aeration,
and other
processes.
Porosity

● the amount of porosity in a soil

depends on the minerals that make
up the soil and the amount
of sorting that occurs within
the soil structure

e.g. a sandy soil will have larger

porosity than silty sand,
because the silt will fill in
the gaps between the sand
particles
Porosity
Pore Space Relations (soil properties,
processes, activities)

● Hydraulic conductivity (K)

 property of soil that describes the

ease with which water can move
through pore spaces

 can be measured at any state

Depends on:
 permeability of the material (pores,
compaction)

 degree of saturation
Porosity
● Infiltration
 process by which water on the ground
surface enters the soil

 water enters the soil through the pores by

the forces of gravity and capillary action

 the largest cracks and pores offer a great

reservoir for the initial flush of water.
This allows a rapid infiltration

 smaller pores take longer to fill and rely on

capillary forces as well as gravity

 smaller pores have a slower infiltration as

the soil becomes more saturated
Porosity
● Cultivation and Soil Management
► Continuous cultivation and
cropping reduces macropore space

► Conservation tillage – (e.g. minimum

tillage, no-tillage, mulch
tillage, etc)

● Increased accumulation of OM
● Development of network of
macropores (biopores)
● Greater macroporisity of the
surface layers, reducing surface
sealing
Porosity
Pore types

● Macropores

 pores that are too large to have

any significant capillary force.
These pores are full of air
at field capacity. Macropores can
be caused by cracking, division
of peds and aggregates, as well
as plant roots, and zoological
exploration. Size >75 μm
Porosity

● Mesopore
 pores filled with water at field capacity

 also known as storage pores because of the

ability to store water useful to plants

 do not have capillary forces too great so

that the water does not become limiting
to the plants

 mesopores are ideally always full or

contain liquid to have successful plant
growth. Size 75 μm–30 μm
Porosity
● Micropores
 pores that are filled with water
at permanent wilting point. Suction is
required to remove water from micropores

 water associated is usually adsorbed

onto the surfaces of clay molecules

 water held in micropores is important to

the activity of microbes creating
moist anaerobic conditions

 water can also cause either the oxidation

or reduction of molecules in
the crystalline structure of the soil
minerals. Size <30 μm
 Textural Class BD (Mg/m3) Porosity (%)
Sand 1.55 42
Sandy loam 1.40 48
Fine sandy loam 1.30 51
Loam 1.20 55
Silt loam 1.15 56
Clay loam 1.10 59
Clay 1.05 60
Aggregated clay 1.00 62
Source: Juma 1999.
THANK YOU
Prepare for Exer 2