DETERMINATION OF SOIL BULK DENSITY, SOIL POROSITY AND SOIL

PARTICLE DENSITY

NAMES: MICHELLE BANTSI

LAME ALEX SESINYI
GODWIN CHUMA
AIM
To measure and determine the soil particle density of each horizon in a soil profile, and the
soil bulk density.

INTRODUCTION
Soils are made up of a mixture of solids (soil particles), liquids (soil water), and gases. The liquid and gas portions are required for plant growth and are found in

the pore spaces between the soil solids. Bulk density also known as apparent specific gravity is a measure of the mass of a soil per unit volume (i.e., g/cm3),

including solids and pore spaces. Bulk density is a soil property that agriculturalists and engineers commonly measure. Because high bulk density soils have little

pore space, water infiltration is reduced, root penetration is inhibited, and aeration is restricted, reducing agricultural productivity. Low density soils are easily

compacted and may settle, causing damage to roads, sidewalks, and building foundations. It also is very important to be vigilant when sampling the soil to

measure this specific gravity as Particle density is a measure of the mass of soil solids per unit volume (g/cm3). Pore space, on the other hand, is not included, as

it is with bulk density. Particle density, like solid specific gravity, is unaffected by land use. Particle density is approximately 2.65g/cm3, though this number can

vary significantly depending on whether the soil sample contains a high concentration of organic matter, which lowers particle density, or high-density minerals

such as magnetite, garnet, and hornblende, among others. Porosity, defined as the percentage of a soil sample's volume that is not occupied by solids, is related to

bulk density and particle density. If particle density remains constant, porosity increases as bulk density increases.