Date:

Title: Water retention in soil (Ecology)

Aim: To investigate the water retention capability of two soil samples

Apparatus and Materials: soil samples, measuring cylinders, beakers, funnels, filter paper, digital scale.

Method: - The soil samples were weighed and equated to 40g

- Filter paper was placed into two funnels and the funnels were put on top of two 1000ml
measuring cylinders
- Each funnel received one soil sample
- 100 ml of water was measured using a 100ml measuring cylinder
- This water was then carefully poured into the funnel containing the soil sample
- The water was collected and then measured

Results and Observations:

Table 1: showing the volumes of water collected and retained

Soil Sample Volume collected Volume retained in soil

Loam 69 ml 31 ml

Sand 83 ml 17 ml

Discussion:

What is soil?

Which soil retained more water? Which soil retained less water?

Why is this so? (relate to the size of the soil particles themselves)

Which soil would be better suited for agriculture? Why?