Lab - Type of Soil and the % of Water Content –
Retention - Capacity
You will do the following for Loam soil, sandy soil and clay soil.
Preparing the soil.
(Note : Clay soil comes in hard blocks and will need to break into particle
soil form outside using hammer.)
Set up the funnel and cheese cloth as shown by the teacher. Add 5 scoops of
soil and pour 20 mL of water over the soil. Keep the wet soil in the cheese cloth
for the next part – heating the soil.
PROCEDURE
Heating the soil
Record all data. Be extremely accurate ESPECIALLY ON MASS
MEASUREMENTS. Write down observations and any sources experimental error
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a) Measure the mass of a crucible and lid. Mass = ______________
b) Add all the soil from the cheese cloth into the crucible .
c) Measure the mass of the crucible, lid, soil- water mixture. Mass = _______
d) Determine the mass of the soil- water mixture alone by subtracting :
step c) – step a) Mass = ___________
e) Place the crucible over a Bunsen burner as seen above. Heat for about 7
minutes then turn off the Bunsen burner.
f) Let cool for 5 minutes.
g) CAREFUL - Crucible may still be hot but ok to measure:
Measure the mass of the crucible, lid, soil- water mixture. Mass = _______
h) Determine the loss in mass ( mass of water evaporated) by subtracting:
Step c) – g)
i) Use the following formula to calculate the % of water content – retention capacity:
% water retention- content - capacity =
Loss in mass after drying (step h)
Mass of soil -water mixture ( step d)
x 100
i) Make a data table for all data collected above
REPEAT ALL STEPS FOR 2nd Trial
REPEAT ALL STEPS FOR SANDY SOIL and CLAY SOIL - 2 trials each
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