experiment to show soil contains water

• BiologyDiscussion.com
• Follow Us On:
• Google Plus
• Publish Now

Experiments on Soil | Ecology

ADVERTISEMENTS:

The below mentioned article includes a collection of fifteen experiments on soil.

1. Experiment to measure the temperature of the soil and air:

Requirements:

Soil thermometer, ordinary thermometer (U-shaped minimum-maximum thermometer), notebook, pencil.

(a) Soil temperature:

1. Take a soil thermometer (Fig. 72), set it on the surface of the soil in sun and shade, and note the readings.

2. Burry the bulb of the soil thermometer in the soil at a depth of 10 cm for some time and note the readings at different timings.

3. Now burry the bulb at different depths, i.e., at 20 cm, 30 cm, 40 cm etc. for the same period and note the readings.

4. At different depths, note the readings both in sun and shade as in Table 4.7.

(b) Air temperature:

1. Take an ordinary U-shaped minimum-maximum thermometer (Fig. 73).

2. Observe the readings at different timings (8 a.m., 10 a.m., etc.) and at different heights, and also in sun and shade.

Tabulate your readings in the form of following Table 4.8:

2. Experiment to study the texture of given soil samples:

What is soil texture?

Soil texture mainly depends on the size of the soil particles, proportion of the various particles and on the peculiar and specific arrangement of these particles.

The designation of various kinds of soil particles mainly depends upon the diameter of the particles which can be categorized as mentioned in the following Table 4.9:

Different soil samples.

For knowing the soil texture a rough but easy method is to examine the soil under the thumb and the finger in moist as well as dry conditions. A hand lens may also be used for it. Different particles can be judged as follows:

Particles can be easily seen. These are loose and coarse. In moist conditions, the sand can be squeezed and cast but on touching by hand the particles will separate. Size of the particles varies from 0.02 to 2.0 mm.

It gives clotty appearance in dry conditions. The size of the particles ranges from 0.002 to 0.02 mm. in diameter.

It is sticky when wet. It forms a long flexible ribbon when pinched between thumb and finger. The size of the clay particles is smallest (below 0.002 mm. in diameter).

3. Experiment to estimate the bulk density of the grassland and woodland soil:

Soil samples, khurpa or any other digging instrument, oven, measuring cylinder, physical balance.

What is Bulk Density?

The dry weight of unit volume of the soil is called its bulk density. It is expressed as gram per cm 3 . High bulk density is inversely proportional to the pore surface of the soil. The soils with bulk density (gm./cm 3 ) varying between 1.1 and 1.5 are medium to fine-textured while those between 1.5 and 1.7 are coarse-textured. Alkaline soils usually have a bulk density above 1.7. The bulk density is calculated by the formula:

Bulk density (gm./cm 3 ) = Weight of dry soil (gm.)/Volume of dry soil (cm 3 )

Under mentioned is the procedure to find out the bulk density of the soil:

1. Take soil samples randomly from an area from a depth of about 15 cm.

2. Dry the soil in an oven for about 24 hours at a temperature of 105°C.

3. Transfer a part of the dried soil to a measuring cylinder and determine its volume.

4. Determine the weight of the above volume of soil on a balance.

Find the bulk density of the soil by the formula mentioned above. Also determine the type of the soil by the details mentioned above.

4. Experiment to estimate the porosity of different soil samples:

Pores between the soil particles are of great importance for the plant growth because they contain air and water. Porosity of the soil depends upon the texture and structure of the soil, compactness of the soil and also on the organic content of the soil. It increases with the increase in the percentage of organic matter in the soil. It decreases with the decrease in the size of the soil particles. Porosity also decreases with the depth of the soil in the earth.

Balance, oven, soil samples, measuring cylinders, water.

1. Take some amount of different soil samples (e.g. sand, clay), put them in the oven for some time and allow them to dry.

2. Weigh 250 gm. of each oven-dry soil samples and place each of them in separate measuring cylinders.

3. Add 250 ml of water in each measuring cylinder gradually through the wall and note the level of water in each cylinder.

4. Wait for about 15 minutes and again note the water level in each cylinder. There is a fall of water level in each cylinder. Now deduct the second water level from the first one. This will give us the porosity of soil sample.

Observations:

The percent porosity of sand, silt, clay and garden soil is…,…,…, and… respectively.

5. Experiment to find out the moisture content of the soil:

Polythene bags, oven, khurpa (a weeding instrument), beaker, balance.

1. Take about 100 gm. of soil from the desired depth, keep it in polythene bag and bring to the laboratory.

2. Keep a definite quantity (e.g., 100 gm.) in a pre-weighed beaker and place it in the oven for 24 hours at 70°C for drying.

3. Weigh the beaker containing dry soil and calculate the moisture percentage as under :

Calculations:

Weight of the empty beaker = 30 gm.

Weight of the fresh soil = 100 gm.

Weight of the dry soil and beaker = 110 gm.

Weight of the dry soil = 110 – 30 = 80 gm.

Moisture contents of the soil = 100 – 80 = 20 gm.

80 gm. of the soil contains = 20 gm. of moisture

100 gm. of soil will contain = 20 × 100/80 gm.

= 25 gm. moisture

100 gm. of dry soil contains 25 gm. moisture contents.

Moisture percentage = 25%

6. Experiment to determine water-holding capacity of given soil sample:

Soil sample, oven, tin or brass box with perforated bottom, weighing box, weighing balance, filter paper, petri-dish.

1. Take the soil sample, crush it thoroughly and allow it to dry.

2. Take a tin or brass box with perforated bottom and weigh it.

3. Also take a filter paper and weigh it with weighing balance.

4. Put the weighed filter paper at the bottom of the tin or brass box and fill the box with soil.

5. Now place the soil-filled tin or brass box in a petri-dish containing water and wait for about 6 hours.

6. Again weigh the box containing wet soil.

7. Now put the box containing wet soil in an oven adjusted at 105°C and wait for about 24 hours.

8. Now remove this box and weigh it.

9. Now take four filter papers from the same filter paper packet used earlier, dip one of them in water and weigh it. In a similar fashion weigh other three wet filter papers and find out the average weight of water absorbed by one filter paper.

(1) Weight of tin or brass box = 50 gm.

(2) Weight of dry filter paper = 0.12 gm.

(3) Weight of box + wet filter paper + wet soil = 142 gm.

(4) Weight of box + dry filter paper + dry soil = 122 gm.

(5) Weight of wet filter paper = 0.62 gm.

Water-holding capacity is calculated as under:

(6) Weight of wet soil = (weight of box + wet filter paper + wet soil) – (weight of box + weight of wet filter paper)

= No. (3)-No. (1+5)

= 142 gm. – (50 gm. + 0.62 gm.)

= 142 gm.-50.62 gm.

(7) Weight of soil dried in oven = (weight of box + dry filter paper + dry soil) – (weight of box + weight of dry filter paper)

= No. 4-No. (1 + 2)

= 122 gm – (50 gm + 0.12 gm)

= 122gm-50.12gm =71.88 gm

(8) Water present in the soil = weight of wet soil – weight of soil dried in oven

= No. 6 – No. 7 =91.38 gm – 71.88gm = 19.50 gm

(9) Water-holding capacity of the soil sample

= Amount of water present in the soil (8)/Weight of soil dried in oven (7) × 100

= 19.50/71.88 × 100%

7. Experiment to demonstrate different horizons of local soil profile:

Trowel (a small tool with a curved scoop for lifting plants or earth), pick (a tool made up of a curved iron bar with pointed ends and a wooden handle, used for breaking up hard ground or rock).

Select an undisturbed area anywhere or in your college campus and dig a long trench of about 75 cm wide and 1.5 metre deep. (Instead of trench, a narrow pit dug in the study area will also serve the same purpose).

Observations and Results:

Three horizons (A, B and C) may be traced or observed in the trench or pit starting from top or upper surface downwards. All these three horizons followed by their sub-horizons show characteristics mentioned in Table 4.11.

8. Experiment to find out the specific gravity of the soil:

Soil samples, oven, physical balance, measuring cylinder, distilled water, digging instrument (Khurpa).

1. Dig out the soil sample from a depth of about 10-15 cm and place it in the oven at 105°C for a few hours till a constant weight is not attained.

2. Put a part of this dried soil in a measuring cylinder and determine its volume.

3. Fill the distilled water in the measuring cylinder up to the same volume as that of the above-dried soil, and take the weight of this volume of distilled water with the help of a physical balance.

Observations and results:

Calculate the specific gravity of the soil by the following formula:

Related Articles:

• Experiments on Water Contents and Minerals in Plants: 4 Experiments
• Soil and Water Relations of Plants (With Formula)

Experiment , Biology , Ecology , Soil , Experiments on Soil

• Anybody can ask a question
• Anybody can answer
• The best answers are voted up and rise to the top

Forum Categories

• Animal Kingdom
• Biodiversity
• Biological Classification
• Biology An Introduction 11
• Biology An Introduction
• Biology in Human Welfare 175
• Biomolecules
• Biotechnology 43
• Body Fluids and Circulation
• Breathing and Exchange of Gases
• Cell- Structure and Function
• Chemical Coordination
• Digestion and Absorption
• Diversity in the Living World 125
• Environmental Issues
• Excretory System
• Flowering Plants
• Food Production
• Genetics and Evolution 110
• Human Health and Diseases
• Human Physiology 242
• Human Reproduction
• Immune System
• Living World
• Locomotion and Movement
• Microbes in Human Welfare
• Mineral Nutrition
• Molecualr Basis of Inheritance
• Neural Coordination
• Organisms and Population
• Photosynthesis
• Plant Growth and Development
• Plant Kingdom
• Plant Physiology 261
• Principles and Processes
• Principles of Inheritance and Variation
• Reproduction 245
• Reproduction in Animals
• Reproduction in Flowering Plants
• Reproduction in Organisms
• Reproductive Health
• Respiration
• Structural Organisation in Animals
• Transport in Plants
• Trending 14

Privacy Overview

• CBSE Class 12
• CBSE Class 12 Biology Practical

Collect And Study Soil From At Least Two Different Sites

To study soil samples from two different sites and analyse their properties such as texture, moisture content, water-retaining capacity and pH. Also, the study aims to correlate the plants found in such soil.

Necessary Materials & Apparatus

For this experiment, soil collected from the  roadside and garden are to be used. Apart from the soil samples, other required materials are:

• Petri dish.
• Glass rods.
• Test tubes.
• Wire gauze.
• Filter Paper.
• Distilled water.
• Mortar and Pestle.
• pH paper booklet.
• Measuring cylinder.
• Universal pH indicator solution.
• Tin Box with a perforated bottom.
• Weighing scale or Electronic balance.

The following are the steps taken to prepare the soil samples for experiments to analyse various properties.

To study the pH of the Soil Samples

• Take the collected roadside soil and garden soil into two different beakers containing water.
• Mix the test tubes with the soil solution slowly
• Now into a clean and dried two test-tube, arrange a funnel spread covered with a filter paper.
• Now gently pour the soil solutions into the test tubes separately.
• Let the water to completely filter off from the filter paper.
• Take the collected filtrates (soil) into the two different test tubes for testing the pH values.
• With the help of a dropper, add a few drops of universal indicator solution to both the test tubes.
• Observe the changes.

Observation

When the universal pH indicator is added to the test tube containing the soil solution, the colour changes. These colour changes can be tracked using the pH colour chart. Roadside soil has a pH level of 7 while garden soil has a pH level of 6. Most crops grow between pH levels of 6.0 and 7.0.

To study the texture of Soil Samples

• Collect 50 gm of any soil sample in a beaker.
• Take a clean and moisture-free measuring cylinder and the collected soil sample into it.
• Now pour little water into the same measuring cylinder and shake well.
• Keep the apparatus undisturbed for a few minuted and wait for the particles to settle down.
• After a while, observe the changes in the measuring cylinder.
• The soil particles in the measuring cylinder will start to settle down in layers.
• Record the thickness of these layers.

Using a soil textural triangle, draw the corresponding percentage of the soil components (silt, clay & sand). The resultant lines which, intersect indicate the type of soil.

To study the Moisture Content of Soil Samples

• Collect two different soil sample in two different crucibles.
• Weight the soil samples using a weighing balance.
• Make a note of the reading.
• Place the two crucibles over the bunsen burner and heat it until it becomes dry.
• Now again weigh the soil samples and record the weight of the dry soil samples.
• The samples are now ready to be used to determine the moisture content of the soil.
• Calculate the two different readings to know the moisture content of soil samples.

The sample where the initial and final weight is the larger indicates a higher moisture content. Lower values mean the moisture content is quite low.

To study the Water Holding Capacity of Soil Samples

• Collect a  garden soil sample in a beaker.
• To a clean and dried mortar pestle add the collected soil sample.
• Now slowly grind the soil sample into a fine powder using a pestle.
• Place a filter paper at the bottom of the tin box.
• Weigh the entire contents of the tin box.
• Now, add the powered soil into the tin box.
• Use the glass rod to press and tap the box, so that the soil is uniformly layered.
• Now, the weight of the tin box is measured and to be recorded.
• Next, take two glass rods and place them parallel to each other. Ensure that the distance between the two is not long.
• Position the tin on the two glass rods in such a way that the bottom is in contact with the water.
• The complete setup should be left undisturbed until the water seeps through the upper surface of the soil.
• Now, remove the tin and allow all the water to flow out from the bottom.
• Wait until no more water percolates from the tin.
•  Now wipe the bottom dry and use the weighing machine to note down the weight.
• Calculate the two different readings to know the water holding capacity of the given soil samples.

The water holding capacity of the soil is determined by the quantity of water held by the soil sample versus the dry weight of the soil sample.

Explore more  biological  concepts and other experiments on soil, its profile by registering at BYJU’S.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request OTP on Voice Call

Post My Comment

Byjus is really very helpful for me Thx u byjus

Thx u byjus it’s really helpful

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.

Remember Me

Experiment Soil Moisture Experiments​

Soil moisture.

Experiment #11 from Agricultural Science with Vernier

Introduction

Dry soil is made up of minerals, organic material, and air pockets, called pore spaces . In well-aerated soils, a typical volumetric ratio would be 55% solids and 45% pore space. As water is added to the soil, the pore spaces begin to fill with water. Soil that seems damp to the touch might have 55% solids, 35% pore space and 10% water. This would be an example of 10% volumetric water content. The maximum water content in this scenario is 45% because at that value, all the available pore space has been filled with water. This soil is referred to as being saturated, because at 45% volumetric water content, the soil can hold no more water.

Over time, soil moisture changes as soils collect, store, and release water. Collection occurs as water enters the soil through surface pores in a process called permeation. When forces of retention within soil are greater than removal forces, water storage is possible. Water release takes place when plants uptake water, evaporation occurs, or gravitational forces overcome retention.

Many factors influence the rate at which water will permeate a soil and how quickly soil moisture is lost, including surface cover, environmental factors such as relative humidity and air movement, and the characteristics of the soil itself. In this activity, you will compare two types of soil to determine how soil particle size influences soil moisture over time.

• Learn the technique for measuring soil moisture using a soil moisture sensor.
• Determine the volumetric soil water content of a soil sample.
• Examine how soil particle size influences soil moisture.

Sensors and Equipment

This experiment features the following sensors and equipment. Additional equipment may be required.

Ready to Experiment?

Ask an expert.

Get answers to your questions about how to teach this experiment with our support team.

• Call toll-free: 888-837-6437
• Chat with Us
• Email [email protected]

Purchase the Lab Book

This experiment is #11 of Agricultural Science with Vernier . The experiment in the book includes student instructions as well as instructor information for set up, helpful hints, and sample graphs and data.