Practical 3: Determining how much water there is in soil (Water Retention Capacity)

Soil water retention capacity is the ability of soil to retain water. All soil types retain water. All soil types retain water differently and this affects the type of vegetation that grows in that soil. A soil that drains water quickly is essentially not good for vegetation that needs a lot of water, alternatively a soil that retains too much water can become what is known as waterlogged and can have detrimental effects on some vegetation types.

Loam Soil (left)

Mass of crucible:12.8g

1st reading of mass of crucible and damp soil before heating: 19.1g

2nd reading of mass of crucible and soil after heating: 17.2g

Mass of water in the soil= 19.1-17.2

                                      = 1.9g

Sand soil (right)

Mass of crucible:12.5g

1st reading of mass of crucible and damp soil before heating: 19.2g

2nd reading of mass of crucible and soil after heating: 17.7g

Mass of water in the soil=19.2-17.7

                                      = 1.5

Conclusion

Loamy soil has slightly more water retention than sandy soil