Experiment: Comparing the air content of soils

Materials: small tin cans, measuring cylinders, water, samples of clay, sandy and loam soils, hammer, nail

Method

• Fill an empty tin can with water and pour this into a measuring cylinder
• Record the volume and call it volume A
• Punch holes into the bottom of the can and push the can into the soil, open end fist, until the bottom of the can is level with the ground
• Dig away the surrounding soil and carefully remote the tin can with its soil intact
• Pour the soil into the measuring cylinder and allow the air bubbles to escape. Record the volume and call this volume B
• The volume of air is the soil is calculated using the formula:
• V=2A-B
• The percentage is calculated using the formula:
• (V/A)x100

Conclusion

• Sandy soils have more air volume than clay and loamy soils
• Clay soils have the least amount of air content

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