DETERMINING SOIL MAKE UP Mini Lab

Instructions: Collect two cups of soil. Remove large pieces of debris and break up clods. Put the soil in a quart jar or similar container that has a lid. Fill the container with water and add one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Put the lid on tightly and shake the container. After one minute, measure the depth of sand that settled on the bottom and record it. After two hours, measure the depth of silt that settles on top of the sand and record it. After twenty-four hours, measure the depth of the layer between the silt and the floating organic matter and record it.

Data and Observations: After one minute, there was about three inches of sand. After two hours, there was about two inches of silt. After twenty-four hours, there was about six inches of the layer between the silt and the floating organic matter.

Analysis / Q & A Clay particles are so small that they can remain suspended in water. Where is the clay in your sample? The clay in my sample settled below the layer of the organic matter and right above the silt. However, the clay particles is the least part of my soil sample. Is sand, silt, or clay the greatest part of your soil sample? Sand is the greatest part of my soil sample. The sand had the larger size of particles.