Third Lab Report : Kacang Tanah

FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

SS11403 SAINS TANAH SEKITARAN

SEMESTER 2 2017/2018

Date of Submission: 10th April 2018

MRS. DIANA DEMIYAH BINTI MOHD HAMDAN

TITLE : Soil Sieve Analysis Test and Soil Permeability Test

NAME	MATRICS NO.
AIDA IZZATI BINTI MD. HUSIM	BS17110523
AKHMARUL IMAN BIN RAHMAN	BS17110521
EMMELDAH JOSEPH	BS17110310
HEW JET XIONG	BS17110443
IVY IMELDA MOENTEN	BS17110049
NUR FAIQAH BINTI ZULKIPLI	BS17160701

Soil Sieve Analysis Test

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Sieve analysis is an analytical technique used to determine the particle size distribution of a granular material with macroscopic granular sizes of soil . This technique involves the layering of sieves with different grades of sieve opening sizes. The finest sized sieve lies on the bottom of the stack with each layered sieve stacked above in order of increasing sieve size of the particular sieve. When the soil is added to the top and sifted for about a given time fixly, the soil particles of the material are separated into the final layer the particle could not pass. This will adapt toward the sizes of the soil used. 

In other case, by passing the soil sample downward through a series of standard sieves, each of decreasing size openings, the aggregates are separated into several groups, each of which contains aggregates in a particular size range. Sieve analysis is important for analysing materials because particle size distribution can affect a wide range of properties such as the strength of concrete, the solubility of a mixture, surface area properties and their physically of the soil. 

1.1 OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the size of distribution of the coarse and fine aggregates of lakeside soil in FSSA.

2.0 MATERIAL AND APPARATUS

1. Air-dried soils

2. Stack of sieves including pan and cover

3. Weighing balance

4. Mechanical sieve shaker

5. Brush

6. Pestle and mortar

7. Tray

2.1 METHOD AND PROCEDURES

1. Tree roots, pieces of bark and rocks are removed from the soil samples.

2. Before the air-dried samples are sieved, the clumps of air-dried soils are smashed into smaller pieces either by pestle and mortar or by hand.

3. The total weight of the soil sample is measured before sieving.

4. 5 different sizes of mesh sieves are selected which are 1mm, 600µm, 500µm, 250µm, 125µm and 63µm.

5. Then, make sure the sieves are clean. If there are many soil particles stuck in the openings try to poke them out by using the brush gently without injuring the mesh.

6. The stack of sieves is prepared and place on the mechanical sieve shaker. Next, make sure the sieve has larger opening sizes is placed above the one having smaller opening size. After that, the pan is set first in the stack, the cobber on top of the biggest mesh size sieve.

7. The soil sample is poured and the cover is placed.

8. Then, the clamps are fixed.

9. A tray is placed below the opening of the pan to collect the remaining particle on the pan.

10. The time is adjusted to 15 minutes and the shaker was going on 4050.

11. After the shaker has stopped, the mass of each sieve and retained soil are measured. The finest particle on the pan was also collected.

3.0 RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS

Weight total = 68.6945 g

After sieve analysis = 16.3930 g

Sieve No.	Sieve opening mesh size	Mass of soil retained on each size (g)	Percent of mass retained on each sieve (Rn)	Cumulative percent retained ( % cumulative passing = 100% - % cumulative retained )	Percent Finer 100 - ⅀Rn
1	1 mm	8.4918	12.36	12.36	87.64
2	600 mm	6.8416	9.96	22.32	77.68
3	500 mm	1.9651	2.86	25.18	74.82
4	250 µm	13.5809	19.77	44.95	55.05
5	125 µm	11.1311	16.20	61.15	38.85
6	63 µm	16.3465	23.80	84.95	15.05

DISCUSSIONS

From the result above, through sieve analysis we can deduce that the soil sample from lakeside FSSA we have used is mostly consists of finer soil particle as the mass of soil retained on the 63 µm sieve mesh has the highest mass which is 16.34g or 23.80%.

4.0 CONCLUSION

As a conclusion, we can easily determine the size distribution of the coarse and fine aggregates and it can be said that sieve analysis test is considered the most accurate way. The smaller the sieve mesh, the smaller soil particle is able to get filtered down. Therefore, the mass and amount of soil particles retained on each sieve mesh is able to help in deducing the proportion of different soil particles in a soil.

5.0 REFERENCES

1. https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/article-field-method-for -sieve-analysis

2.www.agroengineering.org-compairing-particle-size-distribution-analysis

Soil Permeability Test

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Soil is permeable materials because of the existence of interconnected voids that allow the flow of fluids when a difference in energy head exists (Amr, 2016). The soil permeability is referring to the ability of water to move through it or to penetrate it within the soil layers. Soil permeability, also termed as the hydraulic conductivity which refers to the ability of a soil to conduct water and can be measured by using several methods that include constant and falling head laboratory tests on intact or reconstituted specimens (Amr, 2016). The permeability of soil is affected by several factors such as void ratios, distribution of inter-granular pores and degree of saturation as well. 
Soil permeability act as a crucial role for plant growth as it determines how well the water is able to move through the soils. For an example, soil with high percentages of clay textures means the soil consists more micropores and soil particles are very fine and do not have much spaces for the water from moving quickly within the soil and this causes the soil itself has very low soil permeability. The percolation rate and drainage is directly proportional to the soil permeability. Therefore, it can be said soil permeability is an essential factor because it determines the plant growth for its nutrient uptake and moisture which is needed by the plants.

1.1 OBJECTIVE

- To determine the percolation rate of the soil
- To determine the porosity of the soil

2.0 MATERIAL AND APPARATUS

1. Graduated cylinders

2. Funnels

3. Test tubes/ Glass beaker

4.Test tube racks

5. Filter paper

6. Soil samples

7. Time watch

2.1 METHOD AND PROCEDURES

1.The test tube is placed stood on the test tube rack and funnel on top of test tube has been prepared.

2. The filter paper is folded and inserted into the funnel to as a soil separated. This is to prevent the remaining soil from dropping into the test tube.

3. The same amount of five air-dried soil samples were prepared for each setup. The soil was compacted gently, and  prepared two replicates for average because of only had one type of soil sample.

4. The same amount of water ( 100 ml ) is prepared  and gently pour in each funnel at the same time.

5. Then,  after the water not overflowing in the funnel, the balance of the water was added to finish 100ml of water.

6. After an hour, the water volume in the test tube is measured and recorded.

3.0 RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS

After 1 hour, the amount of water observed is 73mL.

After 1 hour, the amount of water observed is 53mL.

Average amount of water = ( Sample 1 + Sample 2 ) / 2

                                               = 63 mL

The rate at which the water flows through the column of soil is known as percolation of water.

Percolation rate = amount of water/ percolation time (hour)

= 63 ml/ 1hour

= 63 ml/h

1. The percolation rate/hydraulic conductivity of our soil samples is  73 ml/h.

2. Based on our observation where we use 500 ml for daily watering, we have noticed that the soils  from each pot became quite compacted and probably due to the fact that our soils consists of clay which has high water holding capacity.

3. Our type of soil texture is sandy clay loam. Therefore, it can be considered as moderate porous and permeable for water to move through.

4. The 500 ml  amount of water is too much land made the soil became compacted and causing the seeds unable to germinate on first batch.

5. As our group mini project is only instructed to use 1 type of soil, therefore we are unable to determine which type of soil texture is very suitable. However, from the observation and data above, we can deduce that the soil texture we used for the plant growth is good to germinate the seeds as it has average percolation rate which allows the water to move freely within the soil.

4.0 CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, although there are a few number of factors affecting soil permeability, it is notably depend on the particle size distribution (the range of soil particles present), pore space, pore size and continuity of the spaces.. It can be concluded that our soil sample has high percolation rate which can be deduced that our soil sample which are taken at lakeside FSSA are easy for water to move through and moderate water holding capacity which is very suitable for plant growth.

5.0 REFERENCES
1. Amr F. Elhakim. (September 2016). Alexandria Engineering Journal : Estimation of Soil Permeability. 55, 2631 - 2638.

2. Soil Permeability. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/fishery/static/FAO_Training/FAO_Training/General/x6706e/x6706e09.htm
3. Soil Permeability and How To Measure It. SESL Australia of Environment & Soil Sciences. Retrieved from http://sesl.com.au/blog/soil-permeability-and-how-to-measure-it/