Soil Mechanics Lab.

Department of Irrigation and Drainage

Experiment # 02

Title:

Determination of moisture content of soil.

Objective:

To determine the moisture content of the soil by using speedy moisture tester.

Apparatus:

Speedy moisture tester (Calcium carbide pressure moisture tester)

Tared scale

Steel ball having size 1.25-in

Cleaning brush and cloth

Scoop

Calcium carbide reagent

Theory:

Determination of moisture content by oven drying method is a

time consuming practices. For compaction test and precision
agriculture, results are commonly needed quickly. So, speedy
moisture tester is used to determine the moisture content of the
soil. This method is not valid when soil contains significant
organic material and granular material having an appreciable
amount of material retained on a 4-No sieve. The reaction of
water with calcium carbide produces acetylene gas which
activates a pressure gauge that is calibrated to read as percent moisture. The sample for moisture
content is very small, great care must be taken to make sure the sample is representative. A
Soil Mechanics Lab. Department of Irrigation and Drainage

calcium carbide gas pressure moisture tester can also be used to determine moisture content
quickly with fairly good results.
The steel balls in the main chamber are used to pulverize and mix the soil and absorbent.
They should be put in orbit around the circumference of the chamber. Never use an end to end
motion because the balls will seal off the opening to the pressure gauge by riveting it closed.
The reading on the dial is the moisture content based on the wet-weight basis of soil.
Convert it to the dry-weight basis with the following formula.
% Moist (DryWt.) =%Moist. (WetWt.) X100 / (100 - %Moist .(Wet.Wt.))
Or
Use the conversion curve for moisture tester reading.
Procedure:
Set up apparatus as shown on Fig. in kit.
Clean the cap and body of moisture meter with brush.
Place three measures of speedy absorbent into body of moisture meter and also the two
steel balls.
Weigh 26 grams of soil for testing (the scale is calibrated to balance at exactly 26 g) and
place sample to be tested in cap of meter.
With meter in horizontal position put cap on and tighten clamp.
Tip speedy meter to vertical position so absorbent contacts the soil, then return it to the
horizontal position. Holding it with both hands, begin a circular motion so that balls are
put into orbit inside the meter. Rotate for 10 seconds and rest for 20 seconds.
Repeat rotation of the tester until dial remains constant (usually about 3 minutes).
Hold meter in horizontal position and read dial when it comes to rest.

Solved Example:
Sample mass = 26 g
Dial reading after test was = 14 %
We know that,
% Moist (DryWt.) =%Moist. (WetWt.) X100 / (100 - %Moist .(Wet.Wt.))
= 14 X 100 / (100 - 14) = 1400/ 86 = 16.27 %