Soil Porosity

Soil Porosity

Soil porosity-the amount of air space in a sample of soil

Procedure

1. All materials were retrieved.  The materials included a 250 mL beaker, a 100mL beaker, water, and soil.
2. The 250 mL beaker was filled with dry soil up to the 200 mL mark.
3. The soil in the beaker was tapped down gently inside of the beaker with the scientist's hands.
4. The 100 mL graduated cylinder beaker was filled with water up to the 100 mL line.
5. The water in the 100 mL beaker was gently poured onto the surface of the soil until the soil was completely saturated and until the water pooled up onto the soil's surface.
6. The amount of water that was left in the graduated cylinder beaker was measured. 
7. Measurements and observations of the soil porosity were recorded. 
8. The soil porosity was calculated and compared to the volume of the dry soil. All work was shown. 
9. The wet soil was discarded in the garbage, and all materials were cleaned up. 

Observations

• Small pieces of wood chips were present in the soil.
• Water filled up the beaker with soil slowly.
• The water made the soil have a solid texture.
• The water made the soil more compact at the bottom of the beaker. 

Calculations/ Results

Porosity=Volume of void space/Total volume of the solid 

http://easycalculation.com/physics/fluid-mechanics/darcy-porosity.php

Porosity=50 mL/250 mL

=.2

Soil Porosity=.2 m3

• 11mL out of the 100mL weren't poured into  the beaker. The pore space of the sample was about 89mL.