MEASURING DECOMPOSITION USING SODA LIME

DATA FORM 1: SOIL MOISTURE CONTENT

Complete one form for each soil sample.

Name(s) ______________________________________ Date _______________________

Soil sample ID number ______________________________________________________

Soil sampling location _______________________________________________________

Type of area sampled (e.g., forest, schoolyard) ___________________________________

Date soil sample was collected ________________________________________________

Description of soil sample (e.g., number and size of rocks and roots in sample; was the

soil very wet or very dry?)

___________________________________________________________________________

Was the soil sample well mixed? _______________________________________________

Date and time soil subsample placed in drying oven ______________________________

Date and time soil subsample removed from drying oven __________________________

OR time and power level required to dry subsample in microwave ___________________

Protocol 4b, Part 1. Determine percent moisture, using a subsample

Step 1.*

Weight of beaker = ___________ g

Step 2.*

Wet wt of soil = combined wt of beaker and soil – wt of beaker

= ___________ g – __________ g

= ___________ g

Step 4.*

Dry wt of soil = combined wt of beaker and soil – wt of beaker

subsample after drying

= ___________ g – __________ g

= ___________ g

_________________

* Step numbers refer to those in the Part 1 procedure, starting on p. 95.

Step 5.*

Moisture content = wet wt - dry wt = g – g

wet wt g

Moisture content = ____________ = g – g

This figure is highlighted because it will be used in calculations on other data forms. It is expressed in decimal form for use in other calculations.

Protocol 4b, Part 2. Adjust total sample to 50% moisture, if needed

Step 1.*

Total soil wt = __________ g

Step 2.*

Actual water = total soil wt of full sample x moisture content of subsample

wt of full sample

= ________ g x ________

= ________ g

Step 3.*

Dry wt of = total soil wt of full sample – actual water wt of full sample

full sample

= ________ g – ________ g

= ________ g

Step 4.*

Wt of water = desired water wt – actual water wt

to be added

= ________ g – ________ g

= ________ g

_________________

* Step numbers refer to those in the Part 1 procedure, starting on p. 95 and the Part 2 procedure on p. 96.