Project Report (962/4)

STPM 2013
Title: Soil Permeability
Names: Amanda Tan Wei Zhen
Kumudhinni Dewi
Asvindra
Form: PU 15H
Subject: Chemistry
Supervisor:

Dedication.

My fellow teammates and I would like to send our warmest gratitude to the principal of
SMK Tinggi Kajang,______, and supervisor, who is also our Chemistry teacher,_____ for
their endless guidance and encouragement which has led to the success and completion of
this project. Also, not forgetting their level of patience which showed when we were in
doubts and full of questions.

We would also like to thank our Head of Laboratory,______ for preparing required
apparatus and materials and also for observing and ensuring that the experiment was
conducted smoothly and correctly.

Special thanks to our parents for their strengths in helping us get whatever we needed to
complete this project and our fellow friends for their criticism and also nice words of
encouragement which gave us the drive to improve our project.

Introduction.
1.1 Background
Soil is a major component of the Earths ecosystem. Soil is the mixture of minerals,
organic matter, gases, liquids and countless organisms that together support plant life Soil
consist of a solid phase like minerals and organic matter as well as a porous phase that
holds gases and water. Therefore, soil act as an engineering medium, a habitat for

organisms, a recycling system for nutrients and organic wastes, a regulator of water
quality, and also a medium for plant growth.
Soil permeability is the property of soil to transmit water. It is one of the most
important qualities to consider in plantations. Soil permeability is affected by the texture
of the soil which ranges from coarse(gravel) to medium(slit) and fine(clay).
Coarse soil usually take the shortest time for water and nutrients to seep in the
deepest followed by medium soil and then fine soil. In other words, the coarser the soil,
the higher the permeability. Texture of the soil also affects the efficiency of water
absorption. The coarser the soil, the higher the porosity, the lower the efficiency of water
absorption.
Permeability of soil can be measured by using a Permeability Test Falling Head and
Permeability Test Constant Head. To determine the compatibility of soil and plants, it is
necessary to collect soils from different locations. Different soil samples can also be
mixed in one sample for better results.

1.2 Literature Study

Soil porosity is determined by the shape and arrangement of soil particles which also
determines the soil permeability. Porosity is the amount of void spaces between soil
particles. Infiltration, groundwater movement and storage occur in these void spaces. Not
all soil are spherical but they can also exist in many shapes and these shapes pack in a
variety of ways that may or increase or decrease porosity or permeability.
Soil permeability is very important in plantations as it can affect the plant growth.
The roots of the plants are underground and need to absorb water from the void spaces. If
the permeability of soil is low, water seepage is also low, therefore, water content in the
void spaces are also low. This disables plants with long roots to absorb sufficient water
for growth and survival.

1.3 Problem Statement

In order to test the permeability of soil before starting off a plantation, equipment
like Permeability Test Falling Head and Permeability Test Constant Head is needed but it
is too costly and too inconvenient for plantation owners to use. Therefore, a new suitable
and simple method is needed to be discovered or maybe invented for plantation use in
testing the permeability of soil.
1.4 Objectives
1) To determine which type of soil has higher efficiency in water absorption.
2) To determine the volume of water remaining in the soil.

3) To determine the time taken for the first drip of water to appear.
4) To determine how soil texture affects the soil permeability.

Methodology
Experiment: Testing permeability of soil using water
Purpose: To determine which type of soil is the best liquid absorbent.
Hypothesis: Sand is the most liquid absorbent as it is less porous.
Materials: Distilled water, , cotton wool.
Apparatus: Burette, retort stand and clamp, conical flask, beaker, filter funnel, stop
watch, tray, measuring cylinder.
Procedure:
1. 5 samples of soil are each poured on 5 different trays.
2. The soils on each tray are then scattered evenly and flatly. They are then dried
under the sun to remove excess water.

3. Cotton wool is stuffed at the end of the burette to avoid the soil from clogging
the burette.
4. Burette is then clamped to the retort stand placing a conical flask under the tip
of the burette.
5. Soil sample A is filled into the burette to its 15ml mark with the help of a filter
funnel.
6. 30 ml of water is measured using a measuring cylinder.
7. Water is then poured into burette containing Sand.
8. Valve of the burette is then opened to allow water to flow. At the same time,
stopwatch is started.
9. The time taken for the first appearance of water at the tip of burette is
recorded.
10. Water is allowed to continue flowing out of the burette until there is no
appearance of water at the top of the soil.
11. Valve is closed.
12. Stopwatch is stopped.
13. Time taken for the water to flow out is recorded.
14. Water collected in the conical beaker is then filtered to remove any residue.
15. Amount of water collected is then measured using a measuring cylinder.
16. Amount of water absorbed by the soil is calculated using the formula
Volume of water absorbed = 30ml volume of water collected
17. Result is then tabulated.
18. Steps 3 to 15 is then repeated with each set repeated 3 times for a more
accurate result for soil Loess, Garden soil, Composed soil and Topsoil.

Results:
Time Taken for the first drop of water to appear, s
Types of soil
Sand
Loess
Garden soil
Composed soil
Topsoil

55
7.53
6.45
2.56
20.19

54
7.53
6.46
2.56
20.20

55
7.52
6.45
2.55
20.20

Average

Time Taken for the all the water above the soil to flow out, s
Types of soil
1
Sand
Loess
Garden soil
Composed soil
Topsoil

Average

5.43
1hour
30min
47.14
29.10
3hour
12min

Volume of water collected, ml

Types of soil
Sand
Loess
Garden soil
Composed soil
Topsoil

23
20
19
19
21

22
21
19
18
20

23
20
19
18
22

Average

Volume of water absorbed by the soil, ml

Types of soil
Sand
Loess
Garden soil
Composed soil
Topsoil

7
10

8
9

7
10

12
9

15
10

14
8

Average