`Lab number: #2 Page: 1

Date: October 27, 2021

Topic: Soils
Aim: To investigate the water-holding capacity of sand, loam, and clay
Materials and Apparatus: 3 measuring cylinders, 3 filter funnels, 3 filter papers, 50 ml each
of clay, sand, and loam, 3 beakers each with 100 ml of water.

Diagram 1. DIAGRAM SHOWING THE APPARATUS SET UP FOR EACH SAMPLE

Method:
1) An apparatus was set up as shown above. for each soil sample.
2) 100 ml of water was collected in each beaker.
3) 50 ml of soil was placed in the filter funnel.
4) The water was poured on each soil.
5) The volume of water that drained from each soil was recorded.
6) The results were tabulated in the second video.
Observations and Results
Table 1. SHOWING THE NUMBER OF WATER ADDED, COLLECTED AND
RETAINED FROM THE THREE TYPES OF SOILS: CLAY, LOAM, AND SAND.

Soil Type Clay Loam Sand

Water Added 100mL 100mL 100mL

Water Collected 26mL 75mL 88mL

Water Retained 74mL 25mL 12mL

Discussion:
Water retention in soil can be understood as the water retained by the soil after it runs
through the soil pores to join water bodies such as groundwater or surface streams. Pores in
the soil can be defined as the airspaces that exist in between soil particles. Every plant needs
water to grow well. Every plant needs different level of water or amount of water to grow,
some plants need a lot of water to survive while some don’t need as much, this is related to
water holding capacity. A table was created to show the amount of water added, collected,
and retained from the three soil types. It was identified that clay soil retained the most water.
The clay soil has the highest water holding capacity, it has small particles and very tiny pore
space, absorbs water at a fast rate and the particles do not drain water very well which can be
a problem for plants because plants need good water holding soil for them to grow and it
doesn’t hold the nutrients. Sandy soil does not hold any water and clay particles hold water so
tightly to the particle surface that plant roots are unable to extract it from the soil. Loam soil
is one that combines all three of these types of particles in relatively equal amounts it has
small particles with a much larger surface area. This large surface area allows the soil to hold
a greater quantity of water. It absorbs water readily and can store it for use by plants this is so
because it holds plenty of moisture but also drains well so that sufficient air can reach the
roots of the plants and it does not choke them, it is considered the best to grow most any type
of plant.

Limitations:
 1. The soils may have already had some water in them.
2. The reading of the water capacity may not have been taken from eye level.
3. The filter paper may have had a rip in it causing soil particles to fall in the water
collected.
Precautions:
1. Place the measuring cylinder on a flat surface to ensure that the liquid level and the
markings on the cylinder are both horizontal.
2. Position the eye as the same level as the bottom of the meniscus to avoid the
measurement being more or less than the true measurement.
3. The funnels should be properly plugged with the filter paper to prevent soil samples
from dripping into the cylinder.
4. Soil samples should be dried before used.
5. Measuring the right amount of soil needed.
Sources of Error:
1. The amount of water poured in each funnel is not measured accurately in the beaker.
2. Misreading the volume of water that drained from each soil.
3. Not setting up the apparatus correctly.

Conclusion:
It can be concluded that soils with smaller particles loam which retained 74ml and clay which
retained 25 ml of water have a larger surface area which allows it to hold more water while
sand which retained 12ml of water has larger particles which causes the soil to retain less
water.
Reflection:
In carrying out this lab I learnt that there are many different types of soils, and some soils
retain more water than others. In this investigation clay retained the most .This lab provided
new knowledge on how water holding capacity of soil is important to soil health. Soils that
can retain a balanced amount of water are able to nourish crops and keep soil organic matter
alive. Soil that can hold more water requires less water from rainfall or irrigation. In times of
drought, the soil with higher water-holding capacity is important for farmers as it keeps the
crops fertile and in the end the farmers make a profit. By understanding this lab, it can help in
the future by giving humans a clearer understanding that loam soil is ideal for most garden
plants.