Group No.

5 (U-2L)

Loo, Chiaw Yuen

Corpuz, Ma. Cristelle
Oliva, Jose Cedrick
Pera, Clarence Bruno
Umipig, Kyle Raymond

Execise No. 4
Soil Texture

Objectives
1. To be acquainted with the means or techniques in determining the soil texture
2. To recount the various methods and calculations done in the conducted exercise obtaining
the percentage of each soil separates and the factors that may affect it.
3. To appertain soil texture characteristics to other soil properties.
4. To be able to understand the significance of acquiring the soil texture and its relevance to
the forest.

Results and Discussion

Table 1. The observed hydrometer readings for soil suspension and blank solution.
Observed Hydrometer Reading (OHR)
(a) Soil Suspension (OHRs)
(b) Blank Solution (OHRb)

40 Seconds
43
42

2 Hours
30
42

Table 2. The observed temperature for soil suspension and blank solution.
Temperature ()

40 Seconds

2 Hours

(a) Soil Suspension (Ts)

27.5

26.5

(b) Blank Solution (Tb)

28.5

25

Table 3. The calculated factors that are needed in the further computations.
Correction Factor (C)
Corrected Hydrometer Reading (CHR)
Oven Dry Weight of Sample (Odw)

41.64
1.36

Computations:
The correction factor computed for each hydrometer reading:

42.54
12.54

Since Ts is different from Tb, C is calculated as C = OHRb + 0.36 (Ts Tb);

For 40 seconds, C = 42 + 0.36 (27.5 28.5 ) = 41.64
For 2 hours, C = 42 + 0.36 (26.5 25 ) = 42.54
The computed corrected hydrometer reading (CHR) for the soil suspension from the observed
hydrometer reading (OHR):
CHR = OHRs C;

For 40 seconds, CHR = 43 41.64 = 1.36

For 2 hours, CHR = 30 42.54 = -12.54

Clay=

CHR at 2 hours
x 100
Odw of soil sample

Clay=

12.54
x 100=28.63
43.8 g

Silt =

CHR at 40 secondsCHR at 2 hours

x 100
Odw of soil sample

Silt =

1.3612.54
x 100=24.84
43.8 g

Sand=100( Silt + Clay)

46.53 =100(24.84 +28.63 )

Soil Textural Class:

In order to determine the soil texture, we need to determine first the amounts of various
separates through mechanical analysis using Hydrometer method. First, we determined the oven
dry weight of our sample (43.8g) and put it in a dispersion cup. We added 100ml of dispersing
agent, filled up the half of the cup with tap water, attached and stir it for 10 minutes using the
motor mixer. Then we wash the cup using water to transfer it to a sedimentation cylinder and
make sure that all sediments were transferred. We filled the cylinder for 900ml mark with tap
water, put the hydrometer, filled the cylinder up to 1000ml, and removed the hydrometer from
the sample. To mix the soil suspension, we used a plunger and moved it up and down up to 20
times. After that, we removed the plunger immediately, started to count and observed the 40
second and 2 hours observation then we recorded the data (both temperature and hydrometer
reading).
On our observation, in soil suspension we got 43 and 30 respectively while in blank
solution we got the same data of 42 after 40 second and 2 hours observation. In terms of
temperature, we got 27.5 degrees Celsius and 26.5 degrees Celsius respectively on soil
suspension while on blank solution we got 28.5 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius
respectively in 40 second and 2 hours observation.
After we completed the table, we determined the correction factor to find the corrected
hydrometer reading as shown in computations. The soil texture is composed of 28.63% of clay,
24.84% of silt, and 46.53% of sand. Therefore, based on the given data, using the soil texture
triangle, the soil texture is clay loam.
Depending upon origin, soil may be residual or transported. Over long periods of time,
pedologic processes can alter the textures of certain soil horizons. According to the International
Society of Soil Sciences, they are classified into the following types: gravel, sand, silt and clay.
Gravel as the coarse type is more than 5 mm in particle size, fine gravel will range from 2mm to
5mm and coarse sand will be around 0.2mm to 2mm in diameter; sand on the other hand, as the
coarse type, has a diameter of 0.2mm to 2mm, fine sand then has a smaller particle size which
ranges from 0.02mm to 0.2mm in diameter; Silt however is smaller than sand as its diameter lies
between 0.002mm to 0.02mm; being the smallest on the contrary will be clay as it has diameter
less than 0.002mm.
Soil texture is significant in relation to absorption as it determines the total amount of
surface area available for the absorption of water and nutrients, as well as the amount of air and
water movement in the soil. As a relation, it affects the runoff; second, the rate of movement of
water; third, the water holding capacity. The rain water penetrates the gravel immediately
without any loss as run off. Rate of infiltration of water into fine textured soil is very slow but
run off is greater. The rate of water movement is inversely proportional to soil texture as stated
by Sinha (2004), also that the finer the state of division, the slower the rate of movement. Water

holding capacity is the amount of water which is retained by the soil after rains or irrigation of
fields. Soils differ in their field capacity which is expressed in dry weight basis of the soil. The
finer the texture, the higher the water holding capacity and vice versa, that when the soil texture
is coarser such as gravel, the water holding capacity is low.

Conclusion
To further understand the behaviour and management of the soil, it is essential to know
and determine the size distribution of its soil particles.

References
Sinha, R.K. (2004). Modern Plant Physiology. Harrow, United Kingdom: Alpha Science
International Ltd.