FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCE

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

LAB REPORT EVT 533: SOIL SCIENCE AND ANALYSIS

EXPERIMENT:

5. Soil Moisture Content

6. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC): the Loss-On-Ignition Method

Name: Nor Iftiha Binti Abdul Aziz

Student’s Id: 2022991399

Class: As2292b

Lecturer’s Name: Dr. Sabarina Binti Md Yunus & Prof. Madya Dr. Yong Soon Kong

Date of Experiment: 5 December 2022

Submission Date: 22 December 2022

1.0 INTRODUCTION

A. Soil Moisture Content

Soil moisture is a crucial variable in the regulation of water and heat energy transfers
between the soil and the atmosphere by plant evaporation and transpiration. Soil water content
described as water that being evaporated from soil through heating at about 105˚C to 110˚C
until the time there no further weight loss and mostly around overnight being left in oven. Water
is the important elements for plant especially in photosynthesis. This soil moisture effect on
growth through influence the nutrients availability, nutrients transformations and soil biological
activity also.

In this experiment, the thermogravimetric method being used for soil water content
measurement. This method usually direct measure soil moisture content by determining the
weight loss from oven-dry.

B. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC): the Loss-On-Ignition Method

For soil fertility, soil organic matter has an important role. Soil organic carbon is described
as a measurement to measure the component of soil organic matter. Organic matter content
plays rule in nutrient retention and turnover, the moisture retention and availability, the
structure of soil and degradation of the pollutant.

This soil organic material supposedly cannot be direct measured. So there a few ways to
determine which are chemical oxidation and loss of ignition (LOI) whereas it is direct
combustion process in the furnace at temperature 500˚C.

In order to approximate the soil organic matter or be knows\n as SOM, the LOI method
being used. The rough estimates of soil organic carbon and nitrogen can be calculated through
using emphatically derived ratios. But this method cannot be used for calcareous soil due to
contains CaCO3.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

A. Soil Moisture Content

1. To decide the soil moisture content in field soil samples.

2. To distinguish the moisture content in two separate soil samples.

B. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC): the Loss-On-Ignition Method

1. To know the soil organic matter contents by using loss-on-ignition method

2. To differentiate between the results of soil organic matter content through this method
to the results that determined through the chemical composition methods.
3.0 PROCEDURE

A. Soil Moisture Content

1. Via using a scoop, the two types of soil samples was collected. Probably the soil 1
should be black soil (higher percentage of soil organic matter) and soil 2 could be red
or yellow soil (high content of minerals).
2. Before that, the samples were cleaned to avoid from organic minerals and material
debris (sand > 2cm diameter) and had been air dried also for 1 hour.
3. Air-dry soil (>2cm) was weighed for 10.0000 g into a previously dried (105 ˚C) and
aluminium boat was weighed.
4. The samples were dried in an oven at 105 ˚C in overnight.
5. The soil samples were removed from the oven and also cooled it in a desiccator for at
least 30 minutes. Last, the oven dried samples was re-weighed and recorded.

B. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC): the Loss-On-Ignition Method

1. Soil sample were air dried and pulverised using an agate mortar to pass a 2 mm sieve.
2. Then, the crucible with lid was weighed and it’s mass (W 1) was recorded.
3. 5.0 g of soil sample was weighed approximately into a porcelain crucible.
4. The pulverised sample was being oven dried for overnight at 105˚C, cooled in
desiccators and reweighed it in order to decide the weight of the oven-dried soil (W 2,
accurate to 0.001 g).
5. The oven-dried soil sample was ignited in the muffle furnace at 500˚C. Mostly the
ignition process should take overnight for ensure complete combustion.
6. The furnace was switched off and the soil samples was allowed to cool in the open
furnace. Hence, the soil samples were transferred into the desiccator for cooling
further.
7. The crucible with lid that contain ash sample (W 3) was weighed. Last, all the data was
recorded in Table 4.4.
4.0 DATA AND RESULTS

A. Soil Moisture Content

Table 3.4a Weight of Aluminium Boat (WAL), Air-Dried Soil (WAS), Oven-Dried Soil (WOD)
for Determination of Soil Water Content (Ѳ) (% w/w and % v/v) of Black Soil

Bulk density (DB) of Black Soil = 0.17 g/cm3

Table 3.4b Weight of Aluminium Boat (WAL), Air-Dried Soil (WAS), Oven-Dried Soil (WOD)
for Determination of Soil Water Content (Ѳ) (% w/w and % v/v) of Red/Yellow Soil

Bulk density (DB) of Yellow Soil = 0.39 g/cm3

B. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC): the Loss-On-Ignition Method

Table 4.4 Weight of Crucible with Lids (W1) (g), Weight of Oven-Dried Soil Samples +
Crucibles with Lids (W2) (g), Weight of Ignited Soils Samples (W3) (g), LOI (%) and
SOC (%)
5.0 CALCULATIONS

A. Soil Moisture Content

B. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC): the Loss-On-Ignition Method
6.0 DISCUSSION

Moisture content could be derived as a parameter that being used to describe the wetness
of sample. For measurement, components in the vapour phase. This moisture content used a
method like heat treatment processes such as oven drying and air drying. In this experiment,
the technique of oven drying was used. Moreover, water content (w) or moisture content of
soil was also a ratio, it expressed as a percentage of the weight of the water in a given soil
sample to the weight of solid particles that come from oven dried soil.

For this experiment, there were such as two soil sample had been taken in order to conduct
soil moisture content experiment. Both of them being collected in different type. Soil 1 was
known as black soil where contains higher percentage of soil organic matter. Meanwhile, soil
2 was known as red/yellow soil probably have a high content of minerals. First of all, both of
soil samples was cleaned from organic or mineral material debris then air dried for one hour.
The air-dry soil was weighed to 10.000 g and dried again in oven for overnight. After that, both
soil was take from oven and cooled them in desiccator. They were reweighed also until get a
constant weight.

At the end, for black soil the average of soil water content (Ѳ) (% w/w) was 23.80% and
the average of soil water content (% v/v) was 4.05%. Hence, in red/yellow soil the average of
soil water content (Ѳ) (% w/w) was calculated as 12.27% thus the average of soil water content
(% v/v) was 4.78%. due of black soil contain the more moisture and organic matter, it shown
as higher water content. In addition, black soil also rich in soil nutrients like calcium carbonate,
magnesium, potash and lime.

Soil organic carbon described as a component of soil organic matter. Soil organic matter
or SOM was part of soil components comprises living organism (˂5%), decomposing organic
matter (33.50%), fresh residue (˂10%) and humus (33.50%). Therefore, organic compound
like SOM also a material of C, H and O that combustible. In this experiment, the loss-on-
ignition method was applied. LOI was commonly a wide method for measuring organic matter
content in soils. But it still did not have a universal standard protocol. In addition, such a few
factors could affect the accuracy like furnace type, sample mas, duration and temperature of
ignition and clay content of samples.

Same as the soil moisture content experiment before, two different type of soils were used
whereas black and red/yellow soil. Both of sample were air-dried and pulverised using a agate
mortar to pass a 2 mm sieve. Then, the crucible with lid was weighed. About 5.0 g of soil
sample also weighed into a porcelain crucible. This pulverised sample was oven-dried about
overnight at temperature 105˚C. After that, they were cooled in desiccator before reweigh.
Last, this oven dried samples was placed in muffle furnace at 500˚C. Probably, ignition
process should be overnight for ensure the complete combustion happen.

From all the process, the W1, W2 and W3 were completely calculated for both of soil. For
soil 1 (black soil), the average of LOI% was 6.03% and the average of SOC% was 3.51%. In
soil 2 (red/yellow soil), the average of LOI% was 4.45% and the average of SOC% was 2.59%.
According to higher amount of humus and clay in black soil, the value for each LOI and SOC
percentage was increased. Other than that, the black soil also rich in nutrients and minerals
content.

7.0 ERROR ANALYSIS

In this experiment, there are probably high change to get some errors when conducting
soil moisture content. First, the soil samples being over dried according to the higher and not
suitable temperature. As an example, sometimes the soil not weight carefully and the result
we didn’t get a constant weight.

Next, it could be some error when running the soil organic matter through LOI method.
The soil was not pulverised clearly. Besides that, the soil samples not exactly cooled in
desiccator thus it affects the reading of the result.

8.0 SAFETY

While conduct an experimental, everyone must wear and use the personal protective
equipment (PPE) that mostly suitable in order to make sure that our experiment run smoothly.
For example, the gloves must be wear especially when we are cleaned the debris in order to
avoid any injuries.

Then, I think all of us should careful by use a suitable tool like hammer during the time to
pulverised the soil sample before with agate mortar. After that, in the laboratory we need to
wear the lab coat to protect your regular clothing from dust, dirt and non-obvious
contamination.

9.0 SUGGESTION

In order to avoid any injuries, the crucible tongs must be used during the time to take the
soil sample from the oven. In addition, the soil sample also needed to reweighed a few times
due to get a constant weight. The temperature must be sure in the right in order to prevent our
soil sample hydrous.
10.0 QUESTIONS

A. Soil Moisture Content

1. Describe why soil for moisture content determination should be oven-dried.

Normally, the water content of soil is measured through oven-dried at 105˚C around
overnight. This temperature that being used because it is enough for evaporate all the
water that contain in pore spaces soil but it still not large to derive water out of the
structure of minerals.

2. Describe the importance of soil water content determination.

The importance of determine the soil water content is efficient for irrigation. Besides
that, providing the water as and when required and also eliminating the wasteful use
of water when the irrigation not be needed.

3. Explain the important of water for healthy plant growth.

Water play an important role in optimal plant growth. Water helps to regulate plant’s
temperature in the process of transpiration. To transport the nutrients and minerals
through the plants and its cell also need a water. As example, water really necessary
for photosynthesis process.

4. Soil which is black in color normally have higher percentage of water content. Justify.
The black soil has a higher water content due to enrich a lot of nutrients in there. In
addition, the presence the carbon-rich molecules and minerals in soil make it fertility.
Black soil also has the largest pore space as the greatest total water holding capacity.

B. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC): the Loss-On-Ignition Method

1. Describe various composition of soil organic matter.

Soil organic matter or SOM known as an organic component of soil which consists of
three whereas tiny fresh plant fragments and small live soil organism, stable organic
matter and decaying organic matter.

2. Describe the need to maintain soil organic matter.

Soil organic matter should be maintaining due of improves the soil’s capacity to store
and supply essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and
magnesium thus also to retain the toxic elements. It allows the soil to cope with
changes in soil acidity and being helps the soil decompose faster.
 3. Explain why calcareous type of soil that contain CaCO3 is not suitable for determining
soil organic matter by this LOI method.
Calcareous soil like chalk is a calcium carbonate cannot be used with LOI method
because the chalky areas can make the soil burn so hot during analysis and the carbon
dioxide also being produced at that time.

4. Suggest method to determine soil organic matter in calcareous soil.

Commonly two ways to determine SOC in calcareous soil which are wet oxidation and
dry combustion (which calculate the SOC directly by remove the SIC from samples by
using an acid pre-treatment or indirectly through subtract SIC estimated by calcimeter
from the total soil C).

11.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the objectives for both experiment where soil texture and soil colour were
totally successful. For soil moisture content, we determined soil moisture content for soil
sample that take from field which are black and yellow soil. In this experiment, the black soil
was chosen according the higher moisture. Two different soil samples also being compared
to each other due to their moisture content. For soil organic matter, the soil organic matter
contents were determined through loss-om-ignition method. The results of soil organic matter
content by this method could be compare with the result is that determined by the chemical
composition

12.0 REFERENCES

Functions of water in plants. (n.d.).

http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/a/s/asm4/turfgrass/education/turgeon/lessons/lesson05/
corefiles/links/effectsmoist/1.html
How Plants Use Water. (2021, March 1). Extension | West Virginia University.
https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/news/2021/03/01/how-plants-use-water
Loss on Drying / Loss on Ignition - Carbolite Gero Furnaces. (n.d.).
https://www.carbolite-gero.com/applications/heating-applications/loi-lod-tga/