FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCE (AS)

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA SHAH ALAM

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

AS229

SOIL SCIENCE AND ANALYSIS

EVT533

LAB REPORT EXPERIMENT 4

SOIL BULK DENSITY

NAME: SITI NURAZIEMAH BINTI AZMY

STUDENT NUMBER: 2021373309

CLASS: AS2292C

LECTURER’S NAME: DR SABARINA BINTI MOHD YUNUS & DR YONG SOON KONG

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 12 NOVEMBER 2021

EXPERIMENT 4: SOIL BULK DENSITY

OBJECTIVE

1) To gather samples from the field for amount of bulk density,

2) To analyze the bulk density and factors affecting soil bulk density.
3) To measure bulk density of compacted soil and non-compacted soil.

INTRODUCTION

Bulk density of soil is defined as the mass of soil’s volume. Bulk density of the soil will
affect the soil’s penetration, water quantity, the porosity of the soil, root’s limit, and the occur of
nutrient. Bulk density performed as structural support for soil as well help water and solute to
move, and lastly for soil aeration.

METHOD

FIELD SAMPLING

1) Sampling location was identified and the surface of vegetation was cleared.
2) The entire sampling cylinder was pushed into the soil and a scoop was used to clear
excess soil at the top of sampling cylinder.
3) Around the can was dug to remove the soil on the surrounding and on the sampling
cylinder using a shovel.
4) The soil from the top and around the edges of the can was trimmed so that the soil’s
volume is same as the can’s volume.
5) The labelled cylinder was covered with its lid.
6) Step 1-5 were repeated for collecting all soil samples with different compaction level.

LABORATORY WORK

1) The plastic cover and the soil samples from the sampling cylinder was removed, was
spread on paper to remove debris and rocks by hand and then the sample was dried for
2 hours.
2) The debris free samples were weighed in a pre-weight aluminium boat. All the results were
recorded in the tables.
3) Soil samples then were screen dried over a large sheet of paper using a sieve. Rocks and
large debris were isolated, and was immersed in 100 ml of graduated that filled with 30 l
of water. Displaced water was represented as volume of debris.
 4) The displaced water volume was recorded on the table. The pre-weigh, sieved soil sample
was dried in oven overnight.
5) Dried soil was put in a desiccator and each sample were weighed in its container when
cooled. The dry weight of soil samples was recorded in table.

DATA

Parameters Unit Soil 1 (non- Soil 2 (non- Soil 3 Soil 4

compacted compacted (compacted (compacted
soil) soil) soil) soil)
Weigh of soil g 4.0000 4.0000 7.0000 4.0000
container
Weigh of soil g 228.0000 241.0000 234.0000 252.0000
container + air-dried
soil sample
Weigh of oven-dried g 200.0000 208.0000 210.0000 225.0000
soil + Weigh of soil
container
Weigh of oven-dried g 196.0000 204.0000 203.0000 221.0000
soil
Sampling cylinder
Radius, r cm 2.5 2.55 2.51 2.5
Length, l cm 6.25 6.2 6.2 6.27
Volume, v cm³ 122.72 126.66 122.71 123.11
Volume of debris
and rocks
Initial ml 30.00 30.00 30.00 30.00
volume
Final ml 32.00 31.00 34.00 34.00
volume
Volume ml 2.00 1.00 4.00 4.00
debris
Volume of solid + ml 120.72 125.66 118.71 119.11
porous
 Soil Bulk Density g/cm³ 1.62 1.62 1.71 1.86

CALCULATION

Volume of sampling cylinder

Soil 1, V = 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑙 Soil 3, V = 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑙

= 𝜋(2.512 )(6.2) = 𝜋(2.52 )(6.25)

= 122.72 cm³ = 122.71 cm³

Soil 2, V = 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑙 Soil 4, V = 𝜋𝑟 2 𝑙

= 𝜋(2.552 )(6.2) = 𝜋(2.52 )(6.27)

= 126.66 cm³ = 123.11 cm³

Bulk density

𝑊𝑂𝑉 𝑊𝑂𝑉
Soil 1, 𝐷𝐵 = 𝑉𝐹
Soil 2, 𝐷𝐵 = 𝑉𝐹

196.0000 204.0000
= 120.72
= 125.66

= 1.62 g/cm³ = 1.62 g/cm³

𝑊𝑂𝑉 𝑊𝑂𝑉
Soil 3, 𝐷𝐵 = 𝑉𝐹
Soil 4, 𝐷𝐵 = 𝑉𝐹

203.0000 221.0000
= 118.71
= 119.11

= 1.71 g/cm³ = 1.86 g/cm³

1.62+1.62+1.71+1.86
Average =
4

= 1.70 g/cm³

(1.62−1.70)2 +(1.62−1.70)2 +(1.71−1.70)2 +(1.89−1.70)²

Standard deviation, s = √ 4−1

= 0.13
ASSESSMENT

1) What are the different ways to determine the volume of sampling cylinders?
= Different ways to determine the volume of sapling cylinders is by displacement in which
object in liquid or gas. If to know the volume of certain subject, firstly fill a beaker with
water and then add the certain liquid into it. Measure the new volume of water, and then
subtract the final volume with the initial volume of the water and the certain volume of
substance will be collect. The other way is by the space. Volume of cylinders can be
measure by the physical dimensions. The other way is by density and mass. Simply
calculate volume = weight/density and will get the answer.
2) How does bulk density affect the amount of roots in a horizon?
= Bulk density affected by the soil compaction. High bulk density means soil is lack of
compaction and porosity. High bulk density will make the roots become more fragile and
small and can’t hold the soil stronger.
3) What would change soil particle density or soil bulk density due to soil compaction? Why?
= Soil bulk density increase along the depth of soil cause soil denser due to soil pores
compression. This condition occur because of soil is lack of mineral and nutrient.
4) In an ideal agricultural soil in good physical condition, approximately what proportion of
the total volume of the soil is comprised of pores.
= The best condition to have a healthy and rich soil is to have about 50% pores and other
50% of solids such as minerals and water.

DISCUSSION

In this experiment, all four soil samples had been used which were compact and non-
compact soils and the bulk density of each soils had been analyze and calculated. It is important
to dig the soils carefully in order to get the correct value of the soil’s bulk density.

The data recorded shown that for the first soil which is non-compact soil recorded that the
volume of sampling cylinder is 122.72 cm³ and soil bulk density is 1.62 g/cm³. For the second soil
which is non-compacted soil shown that the volume of sampling cylinder is 126.66 cm³ and the
bulk density is 1.62 g/cm³. Next is the third soil which compact soil shown that the volume of
sampling cylinder and bulk density recorded were 122.71 cm³ and 1.71 g/cm³ respectively. For
the last soil which is compact soil recorded that the volume is 123.11 cm³ and bulk density is 1.86
g/cm³.
 Based on this experiment, in shown that the non-compact soil which were soil 1 and soil
2 has low bulk density volume and it shown on the result which were 1.62 g/cm³ for both soil. The
lower bulk density of soil result to the more spaces of pores and low weight of the soils. So, the
soil’s ability to retain moisture, water, and nutrients are high. In contrast, high bulk density gives
the poor condition to the soil. It shown that soil 3 and 4 which were compact soil recorded 1.71
g/cm³ and 1.86 g/cm³ respectively. Therefore, compact soil tends to have less pores and it more
heavy than non-compact soil. So, the soil didn’t have much energy and can’t manage a lot of
water in the soil.

ERROR

Error may occur when conducting the experiment. During the field sampling, the soil may
not be crushed perfectly and it may lead to incorrect weigh of the soil. The error also may occur
when reading the volume, and weight. the volume of sampling cylinder may be read it wrong and
result a wrong calculation to the whole bulk density.

SAFETY

Incident may occur while taking the soil sample from the soil. The possibilities to hand
injury is high if not wearing the proper equipment. The accident also can occur while handling the
hot oven.

SUGGESTION

To get the perfect result, the soil samples must be crushed perfectly in order to get the
correct weigh. Besides, make sure to get the correct value for sampling cylinder in order to get
the correct calculation for bulk density of the soils. To avoid incident happen, wear the proper
equipment while taking the soil samples on the fields. Wear hand glove to avoid hand injury and
use the shovel to get the soil samples.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, both non-compact and compact soil give the different value of bulk density
in which non-compact soil has low bulk density which make them healthy soil rich in nutrients and
water while compact soil has high bulk density which make them poor in nutrients and water.
REFERENCES
 Indoria, A. K. (2020). ScienceDirect. Retrieved from Bulk Density of Soil:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/bulk-density-of-soil

 NRCS East National Technology Support Center. (2011, September 19). Retrieved from Bulk
Density: http://soilquality.org/indicators/bulk_density.html

 Sciencing. (2021). Retrieved from Different Ways to Find Volume:

https://sciencing.com/different-ways-volume-5673172.html

 Yong Soon Kong, A. K. (2018). Laboratory Manual for Soil Science and Analysis. In A. K. Yong
Soon Kong, Laboratory Manual for Soil Science and Analysis (pp. 27-30). UiTM Press.