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Soil Lab

lab exercise

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14 views4 pages

Soil Lab

lab exercise

Uploaded by

nadeynngallo29
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Soil Science 110

Soils and Soil Management

Laboratory Exercise No. 3


Soil Physical Properties
C. Water Movement and Retention in Soils

INTRODUCTION

In crop production, soil-water-plant relationships receive much emphasis principally


because of the importance of water to plants and, in fact, to all forms of living matter. The soil
serves as a vast reservoir of water for plant use.
However, all the water that enters the soil profile, either supplied by rainfall or irrigation, does
not remain in the profile long enough since some move down and drains to the groundwater while
a fraction is absorbed by plants or evaporates directly into the atmosphere.
The readiness by which water moves within the soil and the ability of the soil to retain
moisture for plants are related to soil texture and structure. Differences between soils with respect
to these properties could account largely for variations in water holding capacity and permeability
of soils.

OBJECTIVES
To demonstrate the influence of structural and textural attributes of a soil on water
movement and storage.

MATERIALS
Tin Cans Soil Auger
Beaker Triple beam balance
Plastic bags
Stopwatch

PROCEDURE

A. Field Determination of Soil Permeability


1. Clear the ground surface of the chosen sites in the field from plants and other
obstructions.
2. Remove both ends of the three tin cans by cutting the end parts of the cans.
3. Drive the cans into the soil to a depth of 2.5cm.
4. Pour 200 ml of water into each can/record the time it would take for the water to
infiltrate into the soil. Each can would represent one replication.
5. Using a shovel, dig a hole to expose a portion of the subsoil (20 cm from the surface)
and repeat steps 3 and 4. The subsoil may be distinguished from the surface soil by
changes in color and structure.
6. Collect 2 soil permeability data for surface and subsurface soils in adjacent area.

Calculate soil permeability (cm/sec) using the equation:


Q
Permeability =--------
At
1
Where: Q = volume of water added (cm3)
A = cross-sectional area of the can (cm2)
t = time required for all water to infiltrate (sec)

7. Compare the permeabilities of the topsoil (0-20 cm) and the subsoil (20-40cm).
Explain any differences observed and draw out some conclusions.

B. Moisture Distribution in the Soil Profile


1. Using a soil auger, collect soil samples from the topsoil and subsoil. Place the
samples separately in plastic bags to prevent evaporation.
2. Place the samples in pre-weighed tin cans. Duplicate the samples.
3. Place the samples in an oven for 24hrs at 110 oC. After drying, allow them to cool and
weigh.
4. Calculate the moisture content (% moisture by mass) of each subsample using the
formula:

FW of soil – ODW of soil


% MC = x 100
ODW of soil

Where: FW = fresh weight


ODW = oven-dry weight
MC = moisture content

5. Calculate the mean moisture content for the 2 replications per sample and plot the
moisture content against soil depth in a graphing paper.

References:

ISRIC, 1995. Procedures of Soil Analysis (L.P.van Reeuwijk, ed). ISRIC, Wageningen

Schlichting, E., H.P. Blume and K.Stahr. 1995. Soil Science Practicum (2nd ed).
Blackwell, Berlin -Vienna

2
Soil Science 110
Laboratory Exercise No. 3
Soil Physical Properties
C. Water Movement and Retention in Soils

Name: ______________________________ Date Conducted:________________


Lab. Section: ________________________ Date Submitted:________________
Lab. Instructor:_______________________ Rating:________________________

DATA SHEET

A. Field Determination of Soil Permeability

Depth Sample Volume Time for Radius Cross- Soil Average


(cm) No. of water all the of can sectional permeability Permeability
added water to (cm) area of (cm/sec) (cm/sec)
(cm3) infiltrate can
(sec) (cm2)
0-20 1

20-40 1

B. Moisture Distribution of a Soil Profile

Depth Sample Weight Fresh Fresh Oven- Oven- Moisture Average


(cm) No. of tin weight weight dry dry content moisture
(g) of soil of soil weight weight (%) content
+ tin (g) of soil + of soil (%)
can (g) tin can (g)
(g)
0-20 1

20-40 1

3
QUESTIONS
1. What forces account for the downward movement of water within the soil profile?

2. How do soil texture and structure affect the rate of water movement and water retention
in soils?

3. From the data, describe the soil moisture distribution and its implications to plant growth.

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