Computer

Soil Moisture

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Over time, soil moisture changes as soils collect, store, and release water. Collection occurs as water enters the soil through surface pores in a process called permiation. When forces of retention within soil are greater than removal forces, water storage is possible. Water release takes place when plants uptake water, evaporation occurs, or gravitational forces overcome retention. Many factors influence the rate at which water will permeate a soil and how quickly soil moisture is lost, including surface cover, environmental factors such as relative humidity and air movement, and the characteristics of the soil itself. In this activity, you will compare two types of soil to determine how soil particle size influences soil moisture over time.

In this experiment, you will

MATERIALS

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PROCEDURE
1. Connect a Soil Moisture Sensor and the data-collection interface. Prepare the computer for data collection by opening the file 11 Soil Moisture from the Agricultural Science with Vernier folder of Logger Pro.

2. Obtain the soil sample assigned by your instructor. Record your soil type in the data table.

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computer Vernier computer interface Logger Pro Vernier Soil Moisture Sensor

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Learn the technique for measuring soil moisture using a Soil Moisture Sensor. Determine the volumetric soil water content of a soil sample. Examine how soil particle size influences soil moisture.

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OBJECTIVES

Agricultural Science with Vernier

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soil sample plastic container water

Dry soil is made up of minerals, organic material, and air pockets, called pore spaces. In wellaerated soils, a typical volumetric ratio would be 55% solids and 45% pore space. As water is added to the soil, the pore spaces begin to fill with water. Soil that seems damp to the touch might have 55% solids, 35% pore space and 10% water. This would be an example of 10% volumetric water content. The maximum water content in this scenario is 45% because at that value, all the available pore space has been filled with water. This soil is referred to as being saturated, because at 45% volumetric water content, the soil can hold no more water.

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Experiment 11 3. Position the Soil Moisture Sensor. a. Insert the Soil Moisture Sensor into the slot in the side of the container. Ensure that the surface of the soil is 5.0 cm above the top edge of the sensor. Note: The long axis of the sensor should be placed horizontally, with the short axis or blades oriented vertically as shown in the figure. b. Press down on the soil along either side of the sensor with your fingers. Continue to compact the soil around the sensor by pressing down on the soil with your fingers until you have made at least five passes along the sensor. This step is important, as the soil adjacent to the sensor surface has the strongest influence on the sensor reading. 4. Click to start data collection.

5. Calculate the amount of water required to be equivalent to 1 cm of rain falling on the soil sample. 6. After 3 hours, add the amount of water that you calculated. In your data table, record the amount of time that has elapsed since data collection began. 7. Leave the setup undisturbed for the remainder of data collection (7 days).

DATA TABLE
Table 1: Your Data Soil type (e.g. clay loam) Initial soil moisture (%) Elapsed time when water was added (hr) Elapsed time when water reached sensor (hr) Time for water to reach sensor (hr) Rate of permeation (cm/hr) Maximum soil moisture (%) Elapsed time when maximum saturation was reached (hr) Time required to reach maximum saturation (hr) Final soil moisture (%) Table 2: Class Results Soil type Average permeation rate (cm/hr)

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Agricultural Science with Vernier

Soil Moisture

DATA ANALYSIS
1. Use the graph to determine the initial, maximum, and final soil moisture. Record the values in your data table. 2. Use the graph to determine the amount of time that had elapsed when the water reached the Soil Moisture Sensor and record the value. 3. Calculate and record the time it took for the water to permeate to the level of the Soil Moisture Sensor. time water reached sensor time water was added = time for water to reach sensor 4. Calculate and record the rate at which water permeated the soil. 5. Calculate and record the time it took for maximum saturation to be reached. time maximum saturation was recorded time water was added = time for maximum saturation to be reached

QUESTIONS
1. Which type of soil had the fastest permeability rate? 2. Describe how soil particle size influences the rate at which water permeates soil. 3. Which soil had the highest maximum soil moisture? 4. Which soil reached maximum soil moisture more quickly? Explain why this is the case. 5. How does soil particle size affect the rate at which soil will lose soil moisture? 6. How is soil moisture important to plant growth and production?

EXTENSIONS
1. How is soil moisture influenced by soil temperature? 2. How is soil moisture influenced by environmental factors such as the relative humidity of the air? 3. How does compost, mulch, or the presence of foliage influence soil moisture? 4. Do transpiration and soil moisture affect each other?

Agricultural Science with Vernier

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Vernier Lab Safety Instructions Disclaimer

THIS IS AN EVALUATION COPY OF THE VERNIER STUDENT LAB.

This copy does not include: Safety information Essential instructor background information Directions for preparing solutions Important tips for successfully doing these labs The complete Agricultural Science with Vernier lab manual includes 29 labs and essential teacher information. The full lab book is available for purchase at: http://www.vernier.com/cmat/awv.html

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