FOREST SOIL SCIENCE

FDP2406

PRACTICAL 4
“Analysing Soil Texture”

Prepared by:
Group 2

Group Members
1. Joshua Gregory Sylvester S32993
2. Celestiana Boyi Josue S33190
3. Aleeya Julita Binti Ahmad Fauzi S33327
4. Lomi Binti Larijus S33167
5. Varsshamanthi A/P Murugan S33361
6. Gloria Lirek Joseph S33689
7. Muhammad Thaqif Bin Affendi S33877
8. Alexender Renner Anak Pini S34050

Prepared For:
Dr. Ahmad Mustapha Bin Mohamad Pazi

Class Assistant:
Mr. Afsar Bin Jabri
Mrs. Nur Salsabila Binti Mohd Firdaus

Date:
22 September 2022
 TABLE OF CONTENT

Page
1.0 Introduction 3
2.0 Objective 3
3.0 Materials 3
4.0 Methods 3
5.0 Results And Discussion 5
6.0 Conclusion 5
7.0 References 5
8.0 Appendices 6

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1. INTRODUCTION
Soil Texture
Soil texture analysis is done by determining the percentage of sand, silt and clay in a
given soil. The findings are referred into a texture analysis triangle to determine soil
classification. The triangle is used by extending the appropriate lines from the
starting points, parallel to the side of the triangle, counter clockwise to the side where
the line begins. Where those two lines meet is the texture classification of the soil.
The third lie may be drawn to complete the triangulation, but it is not necessary.

2. OBJECTIVE
The objective of this practical was to understand and determine soil texture using the
“Hydrometer method”.

3. MATERIALS
Steel cup, Blender, Glass rod, 1L measuring cylinder, 10mL measuring cylinder,
distilled water, 600mL beaker, soil sample, 1L sodium metaphosphate solution
(HPNO3), Metal stir rod.

4. METHODS
i. 40g of sodium metaphosphate was dissolve in 1L of distilled water and
10ml of the solution was used in the analysis.
ii. Since all results after analysis was calculated on an oven-dry basis of soil, the
soil moisture content was determined separately on the soil to be analysed.
iii. 50g of soil sample was placed in a blender cup. Noted, for good hydrometer
readings 50g soil sample is preferred of clayed soil.
iv. The blender cup was filled with the soil sample with to within 10cm of the top (
rim ) and 10ml of sodium metaphosphate solution. If sodium metaphosphate
is not available, a 2-4 M NaOH solution can be used but the solution is added
dropwise under constant stirring until the soil suspension has a pH of 10 or
11.
v. The cup was attached to the blending or stirring machine and the soil was
blended in the soil mechanically for 15 minutes.

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 vi. At the end of the 15 minutes of blending, the soil suspension was transferred
into a measuring cylinder.
vii. The remaining soil residue was washed quantitatively in the cylinder by being
sprayed with water from a wash bottle.
viii. In case a 50g soil sample was used, the volume in the cylinder is made up
with water to 1130mL.
ix. To ensure thorough mixing, the suspension was stirred with a stirring rod so
that all sediment disappeared from the bottom of the cylinder.
x. The exact time the stirring was stopped, it was recorded using a clock.
xi. The hydrometer was placed carefully into the suspension and exactly after 40
seconds after the stirring was stopped, read to the nearest 0.5 scale division
at the top of the meniscus on the hydrometer stem. Afterwards, the
hydrometer was removed and rinsed.
xii. The suspension was stirred one more time and the analysis was repeated the
of the 40 second reading. The average of these two readings represented
your result. This result was equal to the amount of silt and clay in grams of the
soil sample.
xiii. Upon the removal of the hydrometer from the suspension, the temperature of
the suspension was determined and recorded.
xiv. The suspension was stirred thoroughly again and the third hydrometer and
temperature reading after 2 hours of settling time. The reading measured the
amount of clay in grams. After this step, all equipment was cleaned and dried.
xv. Because most hydrometer are calibrated at 68F (20C), all hydrometer
readings need to be corrected if the temperature of the suspension in greater
or less than 68F.
xvi. Remember to take the temperature of the suspension time immediately after
every hydrometer reading. This is important because for each 1F variation
from 68F, a temperature correction of 0.2 graduation applies. As an example,
when temperatures are greater than 68F, the correction should be added to,
whereas correction is subtracted from the actual hydrometer reading when
temperature are less than 68F

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5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1 : Soil Texture result

Hydrometer Temperature (oF)
Time Corrected reading
reading
25.0 + 0.2 (82.4-68)
40s 1.007 82.4
= 3.88g
10.0 + 0.2 (84.2-68)
2 hours 1.008 84.2
= 4.2g

QUESTIONS TO BE DISCUSSED

( 3.88/50 ) x 100 = 7.76

% Sand = 100 – 7.76

= 92.24

Clay = ( 4.24/50 ) x 100 = 8.49

Silt = 92.24 – 8.49

= 83.75

Soil class name form the USDA textural triangle will be Sand.

6. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, soil texture plays an important role in determining the sustainability of
plant and crop to grow in. Soil particles consists of sand, silt and clay. Based on the
practical, the classification texture of our soil was sand.

7. REFERENCES
Introduction to soil texture. North Country Organics (5 October 2022). Retrieved from
https://norganics.com/index-2/technical-articles/soil-texture-analysis/

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Objective of soil texture. Center for the Advancement of Digital Scholarship (5
October 2022). Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3C9s3oM

Conclusion for analysing soil texture. HS11 Sains Tanah Sekitaran 2018 (5 October
2022). Retrieved from https://bit.ly/3e9vDYa

8. APPENDICES

The apparatus used for the practical. The steel cup is rinsed using distilled water to
ensure all the soil suspension is collected into the 1L measuring cylinder. The soil
mixture is stirred using the metal rod then the temperature was taken using the
thermometer.