20 Oz Soda Bottle, with Lid Cut Off and 15 Holes Punctured on Bottom

Permeability Test

Materials- Soil - Three different samples of soil, trying to get as much of a difference in their composition as possible adhering to finding, Sand, Silt, Loam and Clay

20 oz soda bottle, with lid cut off and 15 holes punctured on bottom

Filter paper

Beaker to catch water.

Procedure- Go to the website http://www.ext.colostate.edu/mg/gardennotes/214.html and determine your scientific soil samples. Once your samples have been identified (which you will need for analysis in conclusion) you may proceed with the following.

1. Cut and place filter paper in bottom of bottle so that it keeps the soil from reaching the bottom of the bottle.

2. Take 400 mL of sample one and place it in your bottle, do not compact it.

3. Take 200 mL of water and pour it into the bottle.

4. As soon as the water starts dripping out of your bottle into the beaker below begin recording time. Record how long it takes to reach every 10 mL of water discharged. Continue recording as long as there is a discharge. If discharge stops or drips are longer than once every ten seconds cease recording.

5. Compact soil in bottle, it should be wet. Repeat procedure steps 3-4.

6. Repeat procedure for other types of soil.

7. Graph your data.

Conclusion

1. Did any of the samples not completely drain all water? Why? Explain.

2. Was there a difference between compacted and non-compacted samples? At what rate? How would this correlate into a real life situation?

3. Explain your graphs and relate them to both an agricultural and non-agricultural situation in regards to rain fall rate and amount.

4. Based off of your soil types and using your data, cite places in the state that have extreme soil types (more clay, sand, silt or loam) and what precautions need to be taken on an agricultural and landscaping level. Consider things as fungal growth, stagnant water, irrigation, contamination and costs.

PART TWO

Procedure:

1. Start with a fresh clean sample of premeasured soil. Layer it in a lab pan and do not compact it.

2. Place the tray above a drip catch ( a beaker that will catch the runoff.)

3. Place the pan at a 2 degree slope

4. Take 500 mL of water and pour it on your sample from the opposite end of the drip catch so that it is a steady slow flow that takes one minute

5. Record the amount of water contained in the sample and run it through a filter paper.

6. Remeasure the amount of water and subtract the runoff. Calculate percent runoff.

7. Take 500 ml of water and pour it on your sample from the opposite end of the drip catch so that it is a steady flow that takes thirty second.

8. Repeat one more time with 500 mL of water but this time pour the water within 10 seconds of initiation.

9. Repeat entire procedure at an 8 degree slope and a 15 degree slope.

10. Repeat entire procedure for each type of soil sample.

11. Create a technique that could possibly inhibit runoff in your worst situation. Rerun your test to support your hypothesis.

12. Graph your results.

Conclusion-

1. What type of soil had the best/worst results for runoff? Were they consistent throughout all of the tests?

2. What soil types need the greatest consideration when it comes to runoff? Explain and cite how this can be implied into the various landscapes and soil types and use experiment one as your reference sites. 3. Are there situations and soil types where erosion due to runoff is of little concern? Are there ecological practices that can be more risqué in this type of environment? Explain.

4. Correlate how agricultural runoff is of danger in the various parts of the state due to their soil types based off of your lab results.