EXPERIMENT 1

WATER CONTENT

DETERMINATION

Group 4

Agraviador, Monique

Capili, Lorena

Creencia, Jamille Anne

Florentino, Jinky

Lazaro, Angela

Ricafort, Mauwen
 INTRODUCTION

The soil is made up of various materials such as minerals, air, organic matter,

organisms and water. It is the result of the effect of climate, slope of terrain, organisms

that interacts through time. It continuously develops by several processes physically,

chemically, and biologically such as weathering coordinated with erosion. The amount

of water it contains is called natural water content or moisture content. This moisture

occupies the spaces in between soil aggregates.

There are different ways in determining the water content of soil, two of them

were Pycnometer Method and the Oven Drying Method. Pycnometer Method is used

when the specific gravity of solids is given and is applicable for cohesion soils. On the

other hand, Oven Drying Method is the most accurate method to use wherein the

sample of a soil is dried at a controlled temperature, which is used in this experiment.

Soil water content measurement is beneficial in different ways as a guide to

irrigation. Its purpose is to regulate conflicts that may occur associated to water in the

root zone. The measurements of the moisture content will serve as guide in order to

resolve the problem that has been detected. In addition, it is measured in order to

determine the rates of the water used and the total water used by the plants regularly.

And also, to determine the storage capacity of the soil.

This experiment is conducted in order to determine the soil water content

wherein the water content is the ratio, which is expressed as percentage, of the mass of

water in a certain amount of soil sample to the mass of the dry soil solids.
 METHODOLOGY

In this experiment, students aim to determine the water content or water moisture

of soils. Water content is the quantity of water contained in materials that is expressed

as a ratio of the free water in a given mass of soil to the mass of the dry soil solids.

The Materials

In order to determine the water content in this experiment, the materials to be

used are moisture can, gloves, spatula and garden soil.

The Instruments, Apparatus and Equipment

The instruments, apparatus, and equipment used to determine the water

content in soil are drying oven and balance.

Procedure

First, put label to the moisture can and its lid with your group name and trial

number then weigh the empty, clean, and dry moisture can with its lid. Put the moist soil

in the moisture can and make sure to secure the lid and record its mass. Remove the lid

and place the moisture can which contains the moist soil in the drying oven with the

temperature of 105oC. Leave the sample in the oven for at least 16 hours. After 16

hours, remove the moisture can. Remove the lid on the moisture can using gloves, and

allow it to cool to room temperature. Take note of the mass of the moisture can and lid

that contains the dry soil

Flow Chart of Procedure

Label the moisture can and lid

1
Weigh the empty can with its lid
2
Place the moist soil in the can and secure the lid
3
Weigh the moisture can and its lid containing the moist soil
4
Remove the lid and place the moisture can with soil in the drying oven
5 set at 105 C

Leave it in the oven for at least 16 hours

6
Remove the moisture can then replace the lid on the moisture can using
7 gloves, and allow it to cool to room temperature

Record the mass of the moisture can and lid with the dry soil
8

Figure 1 Flowchart of the procedures in Water Content Determination

Figure 2. Photos showing determination and recording of data

Figure 3. Photos showing putting and collecting samples from oven

Figure 4. Photos showing mass of the moisture can and lid that contains the dry soil
 DATA ANALYSIS

In order to determine the water content in soil, the students will determine the

mass of soil solids using this equation

. Then to determine the mass of pore water, the formula to be used will be

Where Mw is the mass of pore water in grams and Ms is the mass of soil solids in

grams and both M of empty, clean moisture can + lid and Mass of moisture can, lid, and

moist soil will be in grams.

And the water content percentage is determined by

Where Mw is the mass of pore water in grams and Ms is the mass of soil solids in

grams.
Specimen Number 1 2

Moisture can and lid number 1 2

Mass of empty, clean moisture can + lid (grams) 31 28

Mass of moisture can, lid, and moist soil (grams) 136 111

Mass of can, lid, and dry soil (grams) 97 80

MS = Mass of soil solids (grams) 105 83

MW = Mass of pore water (grams) 39 31

w = Water content, w% 37.14% 37.35%

Sample Calculations:

Ms = Mmoisture can with lid containing moist soil Mmoisture can with lid

Sample 1 Sample 2

Ms = 136g 31g Ms = 111g 28g

Ms = 105g Ms = 83g

Mw = Mmoisture can with lid containing moist soil Mmoisture can with lid containing dry soil

Sample 1 Sample 2

Mw = 136g 97g Mw = 111g 80g

Mw = 39g Mw = 31g

= 100

Sample 1 Sample 2
39 31
= 105 100 = 100
83

w = 37.14% w = 37.35%
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The main objective of this experiment is to calculate and determine the water

content of soil. This was calculate using the formula: = 100%. Wherein Mw is

the mass of soil solids and Mw is the mass of pore water. Two samples of soil were

assessed and evaluated. The Ms of the first container is 105 grams while the second is

83 grams. The computed values of Mw were 39 grams for the first sample and 31 grams

for the second sample. The results showed that sample 2 has the larger water content

with a percentage of 37.35% than the first sample which is 37.14%. According to North

East Region Certified Crop Adviser (NRCCA), the soil types with higher total available

water content are generally more conducive to high biomass productivity because they

can supply adequate moisture to plants during times when rainfall does not occur, which

means that soil used in sample 2 which has a larger percentage of water content is

more suitable for growing plants. The moisture content of soil can be classified as dry

where moisture content is not present and the soil is dry to touch; moist soil is damp but

the water is not visible, and wet wherein water is visible. The significance of determining

the water content of the soil is to show the relationship between soil properties and

elements.
 CONCLUSION

The purpose of this experiment was to figure out about the water content of soil.

This reason for existing was acquired in view of experimentation strategies and the

calculations provided. The little fluctuation could be a consequence of the moistness

noticeable all around influencing the dry soil tests. In the event that the dry soil isn't

weighed quickly subsequent to being removed from the oven, moistness from the air

can rapidly influence the soil.

REFERENCES

Marsh ,A.W., Determination of Soil Moisture Levels. Retrieved from

http://irrec.ifas.ufl.edu/flcitrus/pdfs/short_course_and_workshop/second_international_ci

trus/Marsh-Determination_of_Soil_Moisture_Levels.pdf

JOHNSON, A.I., Contributions to Hydrology of the United States: Methods of

Measuring Soil Moisture in the Field. Retrieved from,

https://pubs.usgs.gov/wsp/1619u/report.pdf

Northeast Region Certified Crop Adviser. Competency Area 2: Soil hydrology

AEM. Retrieved from https://nrcca.cals.cornell.edu/soil/CA2/CA0212.1-3.php