AG : BOT/85/011
FIELD DOCUMENT 19
Soil Mapping and Advisory Services
Botswana
METHODS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL
MANUAL
FOOD ,I.".ORICULEURE
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F? e ;;ft Docament
Soil Mapping and Advisory
Botswana
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CONTENTS
1
1PTRODUC,TION
2
METHODS
1
1
3o± L- and
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th,:x
2,i,i
2.1.2
2.1.3
ETL:loment
2,.4
2.1.5
Exampl,.7: .....,
2,2.1
2
').2
2,2.3
2.2.4
2.2.5
3
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Procedure
Data CompaLatLou
ulk dens
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..9
11
11
(core meth:y_1)
Intiioduction
Equipment.
Procedure
Data computation
9,
0
1
Bulk density of verti.,.
Soil moisture characteristics
2.3.1
Introduction
2.3.2
Equipment ..
2.3,3
Procedure
2,3,4
Data Computation
,.
2_1.5
2.4
2.
Structur 1 stability index
2.4.1
introduction
2.4.2
Equipment
Procedure
2.4,4
Data Computation
2.4,5
Example ,.
Hydraulic Conductivity
(Inversed auger hole method)
2.5.1
Introduction
2.5.2
Equipment ..
.
2.5.3
2.5.4
Procedure ....
Data Computation
24
LIST OF TABLES
Table No
Page
Measured and derived soil physical
2
3
Results of moisture rentention
measurement ..............................................2
Results of structural stability
indexmeasurements .......................................3
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Page
Double ring infiltrometer set up to measure
infiltration characteristics of soil .....................5
Logarithm plot accumulated intake versus
elapsed time of an infiltration test .....................10
Ponding arrangement for wetting 3 horizons
of a soil profile for taking undisturbed
Moisture rentention curves ...............................20
Haines apparatus set up for the measurement
of structural stability index ............................23
Moisture release curves for slow and
fast wetted soil samples in structural
stability index measurements .............................25
Schematic representation of the set up for
measuring saturated hydraulic conductivity
of soil by the inversed auger hole method ................29
SUIU i NT OF P'st EICAL PROPER7I7
METHODS FOR THE
SOILS
I. INTRODUCTION
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26
2.5
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measuring
saturated hydraulic -tooductiVity IVE_ soil by the u
inversed auger hole method
29
REF7RRNCRR
Shay -Pj.,
and
Yulo
F., 197S
The asebs,=,,It.
rie9, ft i
1)if-..1m3h
P.J
Tvaffol,d B.D 197C
of-
s',)J1,3
E.or
nirdusv
Te,hhici 9G-por;Oueen.,71and
acainage
AusLt3J,
_:tigation and Drainage Paper
No 26,
30