NAME: TREVOR GUSVU

REG NUMBER: 181200

SUBJECT: PRACTICAL WRITE UP
LAB TECHNICIAN: MR. J. TAPFUMA
DUE DATE: 01.10.2018
TITLE

Determination of bulky density of soil

METHOD

The soil clod method

OBJECTIVES

Finding moisture content of a soil clod.

To determine the bulk density of soil clod of unknown volume.

INTRODUCTION

Bulk density is an indicator of soil compaction. It is calculated as the dry weight of soil divided

by its volume. This volume includes the volume of soil particles and the volume of pores among

soil particles. Bulk density is typically expressed in g/cm3. Bulk density is dependent on soil

texture and the densities of soil mineral (sand, silt, and clay) and organic matter particles, as well

as their packing arrangement. As a rule of thumb, most rocks have a bulk density of 2.65 g/cm3

so ideally, a medium textured soil with about 50 percent pore space will have a bulk density of

1.33 g/cm3. Generally, loose, porous soils and those rich in organic matter have lower bulk

density. Sandy soils have relatively high bulk density since total pore space in sands is less than

that of silt or clay soils. Finer-textured soils, such as silt and clay loams, that have good structure

have higher pore space and lower bulk density compared to sandy soils. Bulk density typically

increases with soil depth since subsurface layers have reduced organic matter, aggregation, and

root penetration compared to surface layers and therefore, contain less pore space. Subsurface

layers are also subject to the compacting weight of the soil above them. The wetting and drying
and freeze/thaw cycles that occur in soils naturally, generally do very little to alter soil bulk

density.

MATERIAL

-Oven with adjustable temperature control

-Desiccators with silica gel.

-clod of soil

-melted paraffin wax

-Moisture tins

-thread

PROCEDURE ( Bulk density)

1) Excavate an intact clod of soil.

2) Air dry the clod, tie a thin thread around it and weigh (Ws).

3) Dip it briefly in melted wax (60oC) in order to waterproof the clod.

4) Weigh the coated clod (Wsp) and calculate the weight of the paraffin wax coating (Wp)

where Wp=Wsp-Ws

5) Suspend the clod from the balance arm and submerge it completely in a beaker of water.

Record the weight (Wspw). If it leaks air, discard the clod

PROCEDURE
 1. Weigh a clod to 0,001g accuracy into a dry container of a known weight (W1), also to

0,001g accuracy).

2. Record the total weight of the material plus container (W2)

3. Dry at 105oC for 2 hours or 24 hours until the weight stabilizes for larger sample sizes.

4. Remove from oven, fit lid, allow to cool in a desiccator for at least 30 minutes and

reweigh the container plus the dry material (W3). All weightings should be recorded to 3

decimal places

RESULTS

(W 2−W 3) ×100
Water content(%) = ¿
W 3−W 1 ¿

( 46,17−45,58)g ×100
=
45,58−27,73

0,59× 100
=
17,85

=3,305%

100×(W 2−W 1)
Therefore dry mass (g) =
100+ %Water

100×( 46,17−27,73)
=
(100+3,303 %)

= 17,850g

W 2−W 3 ×100
Water content =
(W 3−W 1)
 (39,37−39,04)× 100
=
(39,04−28,20)

=3,044%

Wdry
Bulky density
(
= Wsp−Wspw
Dw )
−(℘/ Dw )

17,850
= 71,92−40 3,63
−( )
0,91 1,0

=0,57g/cm3

Soil sample Moisture content(%) Bulky density( g/cm3)

G4 1 3,305 0,57

G4 2 3,044
DISCUSSION

The bulk density of 0,57g/cm3 shown on the above table shows that there is a greater amount of

pore space in fine textured soil (clay soils) than course textured soil (sandy soil). This because

the particles in clay soils are very small, and many small pore spaces fit between them. It is clear

that from the above table that such bulky density represents soils that are rich in organic matter

(e.g. peaty soils). In other words that type of soil is loosely compacted as such it allows crops to

sink their tap roots underground (NLWRA, 2001; Creswell and Hamilton, 2002).

CONCLUSION

In summation, the low bulky density like in this case can be maintained by consistently plowing

or disking to different depths and make use of crop rotation of crops with different length of

roots so as to keep the soil a little bit loose.

REFFERENCE

Bulk Density-NRCS-USDA

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_053256.pdf

Bulk Density - Measurement | Fact Sheets | soilquality.org.au

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