Soil Dry Percolation Rate

Soil Percolation Rate: the measure of how fast water flows through dry soil

Procedure
1.  All materials were retrieved. The materials included filter paper, scissors, soil, sand, clay, a 16 oz water bottle, water, beakers, a timer, a ruler, and a calculator.
2. Scissors were used to cut the top of the water bottle off.  A line  was cut around the top of the label all around the circumference of the water bottle.
3. The top part of the water bottle that was cut of in Step 2 was flipped upside down, and placed inside of the top of the water bottle.  The top of the water bottle was used as a funnel.
4. A small piece of filter paper was placed inside of the funnel. The filter paper was dispersed in a circular shape.
5. 1 cm of soil sample was placed at the bottom of the funnel.
6. 1 cm of the sand and 1 cm ofclay sample were placed inside of the funnel. The sand was placed on top of the sand.
7. Water was filled up into the 250 mL beaker.
8. Small amounts of water were poured into the funnel, until the amount of water at the bottom of the water bottle was measurable.
9. The percolation rate of the water flowing through the soil and sand samples was timed with a timer.
10. Observations of the soil sample, sand sample, and percolation rate were recorded.
11.  The percolation rate of the dry soil was calculated.
12. Steps 3 through 11 were repeated two more times.  A total of three trials occurred within the lab.

Observations

Sample 1: Water drips with small pieces of soil from the funnel.
Sample 2: The water is clearer in color than sample one.
Sample 3: The water is the clearest out of all the samples. There are not as many soil, sand, or clay particles in the water.

Percolation Rate Calculations

Percolation rate=Area of water per surface area (in cubic cm)/Time (in seconds)

Sample 1

Surface Area=127.23 cm3
Time=5 seconds

PR=127.23 cm/5 seconds

PR= 25.45 cubic cm

Sample 2

SA=127.23 cubic cm
Time= 4 seconds

PR= 127.23 cm/4 seconds

PR= 31.81 cubic cm

Sample 3


SA=127.23 cubic cm
Time= 6  seconds

PR=127.23 cm/6 seconds

PR=21.21 cubic cm

• The percolation rate of each value was different. However, the difference in range between the values was by five or ten numbers.  The surface area for each sample was the same, but the time varied per sample.