Experiment comparing the particle size of soils

Materials: samples of sandy, loamy and clay soils, 3 measuring cylinders/tall transparent containers, water

Method

1. Place sample of each soil sample into a tall container to about a quarter of its height
2. Add water to until the containers are about 3/4 full
3. Stir the mixture to mix it well
4. Repeat this with other soil samples and containers
5. Leave the containers to settle
6. Observe the containers after a day
7. Compare the sedimentation of clay, sandy soils

Results

• When the containers are left to settle the heavier large particles settle at the bottom
• Different layers of sediment are seen with the less heavier particles forming a layer on top
• The heavier particles sink to the bottom with the heaviest particles sinking first
• Clay particles take longer to settle
• Humus forms the top most layer
• Clay has very few larger particles and so the sand and gravel form a very small layer
• The and particle layer is also small in clay
• Sand has much more large particles and the sandy particle layer is bigger than the clay layer which is very small
• Loamy soils have medium sized layers of the sand and clay particle layers

Conclusion

• Different soils contain different particle sized particles and some organic matter
• The size of layers are different in different types of soil
• Sand soil containers larger particles than clay soils

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