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BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

The National Engineering University
Alangilan Campus
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College of Engineering

Department of Civil Engineering

Laboratory Experiment No. 4

Determination of Organic Content

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirements for the subject
Geotechnical Engineering I (Soil Mechanics)

Submitted By:
Austria, Sai Reine
Carpio, Chell Ann E.
Dimaano, Mary Jeane C.
Pillosas, Richard
Unico, Monique T.
Group No. 6

Submitted To:
Engr. Emmanuel P. Maala

October 01, 2022

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PURPOSE

This test is performed to determine the organic content of soils. The organic content is the
ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the mass of organic matter in a given mass of soil to the
mass of the dry soil solids.

STANDARD REFERENCE

ASTM D2974-14-Standard Test Methods for Moisture, Ash, and Organic Matter of
Peat and Organic Soils

MATERIALS AND REFERENCE

● Oven
● Balance
● Gloves
● Tongs
● Moisture can or Porcelain dish
● Spatula

PROCEDURES

Method A of ASTM D 2974-20

1. Determine and record the mass of the moisture can.

2. Place 50 g of oven-dried sample in the moisture can. Soft lumps in the sample should
be crushed using a spoon or spatula. The thickness of the sample in the can should not
exceed 3 cm.
3. Determine and record the mass of the moisture can plus the soil sample.
4. Place the moisture can with the soil sample in the oven for at least 16 hours at 110 ±
5°C
5. Remove the moisture can using tongs and allow it to cool to room temperature
6. Weigh the sample and record the mass.

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DATA ANALYSIS/COMPUTATION

1. Calculate the mass of the dry soil.

𝑀𝐷 = 𝑀𝐶𝐷 − 𝑀𝐶
2. Calculate the mass of the ashed (burned) soil.
𝑀𝐴 = 𝑀𝐶𝐴 − 𝑀𝐶
3. Calculate the mass of organic matter
𝑀𝑂 = 𝑀𝐷 − 𝑀𝐴
4. Calculate the organic mass (content)
𝑂𝑀 = 𝑀
𝑀
𝑂
x 100%
𝐷

The table below displays the data that was gathered in weighing the materials used in
the experiment.

Table 1. Mass of Experimental Materials Before Oven Drying

Sample 1 2

𝑴𝑪 = Mass of empty, clean moisture can (g) 12g 12g

𝑴𝑪𝑫 = Mass of moisture can and dry soil (g) 62g 62g

The weight of the experimental materials before they were put in the oven was
displayed in the table above. The sample's mass of moisture can and mass of moisture can with
dry soil are listed in the first column. The two samples are shown in the third and fourth
columns together with their corresponding masses.

Table 2 shows the data collected after the soil was dried in an oven.

Table 2. Data Results After Oven Drying

Sample 1 2

𝑀𝐶𝐴 = Mass of the moisture can and ash/burned soil (g) 48g 57g

𝑀𝐷 = Mass of the dry soil (g) 50g 50g

𝑀𝐴 = Mass of the ash/burned soil (g) 36g 45g

𝑀𝑂 = Mass of organic matter (g) 14g 5g

0M = Organic matter % 28% 10%

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 Three columns are present in the table above. The samples were shown in the first
column, and their corresponding masses were shown in the second and third columns. Samples
1 and 2 are shown in the second and third columns, respectively.

Calculations:

1. Mass of dry soil: 3. Mass of organic matter

Formula: Formula:
𝑀𝐷 = 𝑀𝐶𝐷 − 𝑀𝐶 𝑀𝑂 = 𝑀𝐷 − 𝑀𝐴
Solution: Solution:
𝑀𝐷 = 60𝑔 − 12𝑔 Sample 1: 𝑀𝑂 = 50𝑔 − 36𝑔
𝑴𝑫 = 𝟓𝟎𝒈 𝑴𝑶 = 𝟏𝟒𝒈
Sample 2: 𝑀𝑂 = 50𝑔 − 45𝑔
𝑴𝑶 = 𝟓𝒈

2. Mass of the ached (burned) soil. 4. Organic mass (content)

Formula: Formula:

𝑀𝐴 = 𝑀𝐶𝐴 − 𝑀𝐶 𝑂𝑀 = 𝑀
𝑀
𝑂
x 100%
𝐷

Solution: Solution:
Sample 1: 𝑀𝐴 = 48𝑔 − 12𝑔 14𝑔
Sample 1: 𝑂𝑀 = 50𝑔 x 100%
𝑴𝑨 = 𝟑𝟔𝒈
𝑶𝑴 = 28%
Sample 2: 𝑀𝐴 = 57𝑔 − 12𝑔 5𝑔
Sample 2: 𝑂𝑀 = 50𝑔 x 100%
𝑴𝑨 = 𝟒𝟓𝒈
𝑶𝑴 = 10%

DISCUSSION

The CE-3108 students have watched a reference video of a laboratory experiment called
'The Determination of Organic Content. Students' observations of the experiments provide
them with data and information, which are afterwards recorded and computed. The experiment
is done to determine the organic content of soils. The organic content is the ratio, stated as a
percentage, between the mass of organic matter and the mass of the dry soil solids in a particular
mass of soil.

The laboratory experiment begins with determining the mass of the moisture can. Then,
a 50 gram oven-dried sample is added to the can. The sample is crushed by using a spatula to
break up the soft lumps. The sample can only be made thicker to a maximum of 3 cm. After

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lumps were removed and the required thickness was achieved, its mass was measured and
recorded. Following that, for at least 16 hours, the moisture container with soil samples are
placed in the oven. It was taken from the oven after being oven-dried and allowed to cool at
room temperature. Lastly, the mass of moisture can with burned soil is weighed and recorded
to determine its mass.

The mass of dry soil obtained from both samples was 50g. The mass of the
ashed/burned soil were 36g and 45g from sample 1 and sample 2 respectively. In order to
determine the mass of organic matter, the mass of dry soil should be subtracted to the mass of
the ashed/burned soil, therefore the students obtained 14g from sample 1 and 5g from sample
2. Finally, to determine the organic mass content, the mass of organic matter is divided by the
mass of dry soil and then multiplying it to 100 to get the percentage. The students obtained
28% organic mass content from sample 1 and 10% organic mass content from sample 2.

According to studies, the organic content of the soil is one of the most important soil
properties that can be influenced through management practices. Engineers must conduct
experiments and thorough research into the qualities of organic content including its soil
structure, soil compressibility, and soil shear strength. Moreover, it also affects the water
holding capacity as well as its nutrient contributions since organic content causes soil particles
to bind and form stable soil aggregates, which then improves soil structure. With better soil
structure, it will increase water infiltration into the soil, which also increases the soil's capacity
to absorb and hold water and lowers the risk of soil surface crusting.

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 Unico, Monique T.

SUMMARY/CONCLUSIONS

Since the experiment relies on self-evaluation, as per the YouTube video "PI 04
Determination of Organic Content ASTM D 2974 14" that was provided as a link, the required
computation is established using the before-and-after oven drying results of the data analysis.
The appropriate conditions—which are typically produced by extensive excavating
temperature, oxygen concentration, and moisture cause the rate to increase. With regard to the
soil test, stable organic matter is examined.

According to the data analysis, sample 1 produced a 28% result. A soil is referred to as
peat or muck if it contains 20% or more, depending on the level of decomposition. Despite
making up only 2–10% of the mass of most soils, organic matter has a substantial impact on
the physical, chemical, and biological functions of agricultural soils. This merely indicates that
for soil organic matter, a sample size of two proves to be a suitable one.

Therefore, these calculations are all meant to pinpoint the dry soil sample’s organic
content, which means the qualities of soil are affected by that. It has an impact on a variety of
soil characteristics, including soil structure, compressibility, and shear strength. Furthermore,
it influences the degree of biological activity, the quantity of nutrients, the rates of air and water
infiltration, and the capacity to hold onto water.

RECOMMENDATION

Being a student, you should have the patience to wait for the results of experiments. Make
sure that you take notes on the findings of the before-and-after oven drying to distinguish
between them and specify the weaknesses and strengths of the given data to immediately fix
an instance problem if it arises. Also, it is advisable to double-check calculations to avoid lack
of precision because it frequently has a substantial impact on the data results that would define
the accuracy criterion for measurements of organic content in soils.

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DOCUMENTATION

Documentation procedures were taken from the link provided.

Figure 1. Weighing the moisture can

Figure 4. Oven-drying the samples at 110

± 5°C for at least 16 h
Figure 2. Crushing soil lumps in the
sample

Figure 5. Weighing the oven-dried

Figure 3. Weighing of the samples samples

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