Republic of the Philippines

ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY

San Fabian, Echague, Isabela

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

LABORATORY EXERCISE I

(SOIL SAMPLING)

SOIL MECHANICS

SUBMITTED BY:

ARON JAMES S. DE GUZMAN

BSABE 3-1

SUBMITTED TO:

RAFAEL J. PADRE, PH.D.

 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
San Fabian, Echague, Isabela

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

INTRODUCTION:

Soil is a complex and dynamic mixture of organic and inorganic materials that forms
the outermost layer of the Earth's surface. It serves as a habitat for countless organisms,
supports plant growth, regulates water flow, and plays a crucial role in various biogeochemical
cycles. Brady, N.C., & Weil, R.R. (2008)

Soil sampling is a systematic process crucial for assessing the characteristics and
quality of soil in a particular area. It involves collecting representative samples of soil from
designated locations, typically following a predetermined sampling plan. The goal is to gather
a comprehensive understanding of the chemical, physical, and biological properties of the soil,
which can inform land management decisions, agricultural practices, environmental
assessments, and remediation strategies. Acknowledging its significance, soil sampling
emerges as a cornerstone practice for farmers and researchers alike. By delving into a spectrum
of chemical, biological, and physical soil characteristics, sampling endeavors provide farmers
with comprehensive assessments of soil health and crop systems. The primary objective of soil
sampling is to gather accurate and representative information about the chemical, physical, and
biological properties of soil in a specific area around the College of Engineering.

METHODOLOGY

• Clear area for sampling, remove or scrape away stones, rubbish or trash from the surface to
expose the soil before sampling.

• Push the soil sampler or dig into the soil following either the S or X methods to a depth of 30
cm.

• With the use of spade or trowel get samples of soil at the specified depth, about 2.5 cm thick
and 5 cm wide. Make sure that the soil samples should be collected away from fences, roads,
building sites, straw or manure piles, and other abnormal occurrences in the field.

Mix samples to get 1 kg of soil representing the area sampled and mix in a plastic pail to get
representative sample of the plot.
 Republic of the Philippines
ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY
San Fabian, Echague, Isabela

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

• Air-dry the samples. Here's how to do it:

a. spread the soil sample on top of a paper board preferably on a coarse blotting paper
(plain white) with its corresponding label.

b. spread thinly.

c. removes bits of materials such as stones, shells, wood, roots, etc.

d. dries the soil samples.

e. let the sample stay to dry for 3-5 days and inspect whether the samples have already
dried. To speed up the drying process, break the samples into small.

DISCUSSION:

During the lab at the mango plantation, we learned a lot about the soil. Each layer of
soil had different colors and textures, showing that they were different in some ways. The dark
brown color at the top suggested that there was a lot of good stuff in the soil, which is great for
plants. But the yellow-brown and orange colors in the deeper layers hinted that there might
have been too much water at times. Even though soil color itself doesn't change how it works,
it can tell us a lot about what's going on underneath. By understanding soil colors, people who
manage land can make smart choices about how to take care of the soil and what crops to grow,
which helps make farming better for the environment.

SUMMARY:

Soil sampling is a way for us, engineering students, to figure out what type of soil we
have and how much of it there is. It's a simple, cheap, and quick method where we collect
samples from different spots in a planned way. Farmers have been doing this for a long time to
check the health of their soil and what nutrients it needs. The accuracy of the test results
depends on how well we collect the samples. As we collect the samples, we also notice things
like the color and texture of the soil, which helps us understand it better.