DATE: LAB NUMBER: TITLE: Terrestrial Environment- Soil

analysis

AIM: To compare the water holding capacity of three soil types.

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

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METHOD:

1. Obtain 3 soil samples: clay, sand and loam

2. Set up three measuring cylinders, each with a filter funnel containing a plug of cotton
wool.
3. Use a petri dish to weigh out exactly 20 g of each soil sample
4. Add all soil to the filter funnel
5. Measure 50 cm3 of water in a measuring cylinder and gently pour in into each of the
three samples at the same time.
6. Leave for 30 minutes
7. Read of the amount of water that has drained through.
8. Work out how much water has been retained by each sample.
9. Record your results in a table.

RESULTS:

TABLE 1 SHOWING THE VOLUME OF WATER DRAINED AND RETAINED BY EACH SOIL SAMPLE

Sand Loam Clay

Volume of water poured/ cm3

Volume of water drained/ cm3

Volume of water retained = Initial –

Final volume (cm3)

DISCUSSION:

What is soil?
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Describe THREE different ways in which soil is

important._______________________________
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Which soil type retained the most amount of water? ___________________. Give a reason
for this?
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Which soil type retained the least amount of water? ___________________. Give a reason
for this?
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VARIABLES:

CONSTANT:
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MANIPULATED:
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RESPONDING:
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LIMITATIONS:
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SOURCES OF ERRORS:
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PRECAUTIONS:
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ASSUMPTIONS:
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 REFLECTION:
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CONCLUSION:
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SBA Skilled assessed (M/M) Soil analysis Mark Mark

Balance zeroed with petri dish on centre of electronic balance 1

Soil carefully added to petri dish without spilling on electronic balance 1

Mass of soil recorded after first stable reading was obtained 1

Measuring cylinder placed on a flat surface 1

Vol. of water read at eye level 1

Bottom of meniscus read while obtaining volume of water 1

Apparatus properly set up 1

Carefully transfer all soil sample to filter paper without spilling 1

Carefully pour water into filter paper without spilling 1

Volume of water collected in measuring cylinder taken only after no 1

more water drained from soil sample

Total 10