Water Holding Capacity

Purpose: This experiment is intended to demonstrate the ability of soil or com-

post to retain moisture against drainage due to gravity.
Description: Water is held in the spaces, or pores, between soil particles and in
thin films surrounding those particles. This water is available to vegetation grow-
ing in that soil mixture. Organic matter and particle size affect a soils ability to
retain moisture. The water holding capacity of a soil determines its ability to sus-
tain that vegetation during dry periods.

Materials
1. Balance with g accuracy
2. Ring stand
3. Funnel (glass or plastic)
4. Tubing (to attach to bottom of funnel)
5. Clamp (to secure tubing)
6. Filter paper (to line funnel)
7. 250 mL beakers (2)
8. 100 mL graduated cylinder (1)
9. Long stirring rod
10. 100 mL of air-dried compost, soil, or
compost & soil mixture
Procedure
1. Thoroughly air dry compost and soil
samples.
2. Attach and clamp tubing to bottom of funnel
and attach funnel to ring stand.
3. Place filter paper in funnel
4. Fill funnel with the 100 mL sample—do not
compact
5. Measure out 100 mL of water using the
graduated cylinder.
6. Gradually add water to the sample until
covered. Record the amount of water added.
7. Stir gently and let sit until sample is fully
saturated.
8. Release the clamp and collect excess water
in the graduated cylinder.
9. Record the amount of water in the cylinder.

Analysis
1. Calculate how much water was retained in the 100 mL sample of compost, soil or compost/
soil mixture:

____ mL water retained

—————————— = water added (mL) - water drained (mL)
100 mL sample (from Step 5) (from Step 8)

2. Water holding capacity is expressed as the amount of water retained per liter of soil, so the
next step is to multiply by 10 to convert from the 100 mL sample to the full liter:

Water holding capacity (mL/L) = 10 x ( ____ mL water retained / 100 mL sample)

From: Composting in the Classroom: Scientific Inquiry for High School Students