Laboratory Manual

Skill: Observation, Recording and Reporting

Title: Water Holding Capacity/ Water Retention Capacity of Clay, Loam and
Sandy Soil
The laboratory report requires you to view the following video Video 11 - WATER RETENTION OF
SOIL.mov

and write a laboratory report. The volumes of water drained are shown in the pictures below.
When saving this document use this naming structure: Your full name Water Holding Capacity
Observation Recording Reporting example “Daniella Grant Water Holding Capacity Observation
Recording Reporting” and include same in a headers throughout the document.

Aim:

To determine the water holding capacity of three tablespoons of loam, clay and sandy soil

Apparatus and Materials:

three 100ml measuring cylinders one for each type of soil, three filter funnels, three sheets of filter
paper, three tablespoons each of loam, clay & sandy soil, one 100ml measuring cylinder to measure
100ml of water for each soil, one 200 ml beaker to pour the measured water into the filter funnel
containing the soils

Method:

1. One filter funnel was placed on top of each of three 100 ml measuring cylinders.
2. One sheet of filter paper was folded to create a cone shape and placed into each of the three
filter funnels on top of the measuring cylinders.
3. Three tablespoons of each soil were placed into each cone shaped filter paper.
4. 100 ml of water was added to each soil.
5. After 30 minutes the volume of water drained was recorded.
6. The amount of water retained was calculated and recorded in a table.

Results:
A table with a title. The table should contain 1) the water holding capacity values as calculated in step 6 in the
method 2) the original volume of water added 3) the volume of water that drained. The table may be digitally
prepared
 TABLE SHOWING: VOLUME OF WATER RETAINED, WATERDRAINED AND ORIGINAL VOLUME
IN CLAY, LOAM AND SAND.

Soil Original Volume of Volume of water Drained Volume of water

Water (ml) (ml) retained (ml)
Clay 100 39 100-39=61
Loam 100 64 100-64=36
Sand 100 85 100-85=15

Discussion:
In this section provide background information, describe trends (averages/ranges/max and min/pattern) seen in
data, and an application of theory to results.

Background Information
Write one sentence describing soil structure/components/how it is made up/what makes up soil.

1. Water holding capacity influences or determines the fertility suitability of soil for different plants.
2. Water holding capacity can be determined by soil properties such as the amount of air space
3. Soil is made up of different components.

Describe trends in the data

Highest, lowest, mid range, in water holding capacity.

Application of theory to results

What do we know about clay that causes it to have the highest water holding capacity? Soil particle size, air

space size

We know that clay’s soil particle size is small compared to that of sand. Clay has very little air space

What do we know about loam that causes it to have mid-range water holding capacity? Soil particle size,

air space size

What do we know about sand that causes it to have the lowest water holding capacity? Soil particle size, air

space size
Limitations:
It is expected this experiment had limitations for several reasons. Therefore at least one limitation needs to be
provided here. You should explain why the limitation was a limitation.

The tablespoon would not have been the most accurate instrument to measure the samples of each soil
because the weight/amount may vary.

Reflection:
Relevance between the experiment and real life. Impact of knowledge gained from experiment on self.

In life you must try and find the middle ground, too much or too little can be bad for you so in everything practice
discernment.

Conclusion:
Briefly answer your aim

The water holding capacity of loam is: 36ml clay: 61 ml sand: 15 ml

CATEGORY DESCRIPTION MARK

OBSERVATION Significant changes noted 1
(Diagram or Original and final condition compared 1
discussion)
Condition of control noted 1
RECORDING Title (capital letters, above table and underlined) 1 (all)
Appropriate format (Neatly enclosed)
1

Appropriate design
1

REPORTING Coherence of expression in discussion 1 (no more than

two errors)
Proper Punctuation and grammar 1 (always
correct)
Correct Spelling 1 (no more than
two errors)
Reflection
1

TOTAL
10