Lab#: 4

Date: January 21, 2021

Topic: Water holding capacity of Soil

Aim: To compare the water holding capacity of three soil samples

Apparatus: 50ml measuring cylinder, 3 filter funnel, 3 filter paper, balance, water,
soil, retort clamp and stand, mortar and pestle (if soil is lumpy), beakers

Method:

1. Measured 50 grams of each soil sample using the electronic balance

2. Set up filter paper in the filter funnel and pour soil sample using the
electronic balance
3. Used the measuring cylinder, measured 50 grams of water and poured into
the soil in each funnel
4. Left to drain for 24 hours and recorded the results in the table

Results and Observations:

Sample A Sample B Sample C

Weight of soil (g) 50 50 50
Initial vol. of water (cm3) 50 50 50
Final volume of water (cm3) 24.2 31 10.5
Volume of water retained (cm3) 25.8 19 39.5
Percentage of water retained (%) 51.6 38 79

Discussion:
 The particle size of soils affect the soils’ ability to hold water. The
soils with bigger and tightly packed particles will retain the most the
particles than the soils with smaller and looser particles and through the
observation I have come to understand why.

Sample C retained the most water while sample B retained the least.
Sample A was the second soil to hold the most water. And even though
they all had the same weight, the same volume of water poured into them
and were left for the same 24 hours yet had completely different results.
This is because water molecules hold more tightly to the fine particles of
a clay soil than to coarser particles of a sandy soil, so clays generally retain
more water. Conversely, sands provide easier passage or transmission
of water through the profile.

In conclusion, the particle size of soils strongly affect the soils’ ability
to hold water. The soils with bigger and tightly packed particles will retain
the most the particles than the soils with smaller and looser particles and
through the observation I have come to understand why. This is because
water molecules hold more tightly to the fine particles of a clay soil than to
coarser particles of a sandy soil, so clays generally retain more water.

Conclusion: The water holding capacity of the three soils were compared and it
was sample C that held the highest percentage of water while sample B retained
the least amount of water.