Particle Size Determination by Hydrometer Method

Gobena Huluka and Robert Miller

Application and Principle
Soil is a mixture of minerals, organic matter, water and air. he solid particles, minerals
and organic matter, constitute about !"# of the soil by $olume. Soil texture is more or less a
permanent physical property soil. Soil texture affects water and air mo$ement, nutrient holding
capacity, pore sizes and rooting growth. %t is one of the master physical properties of a soil. Soil
particles dominant in clay, silt and sand will be stic&y, floury and gritty, respecti$ely at field
capacity.
Soil particles are made of materials with $arying diameters, from sub'meter to
nanometers. Soil particle physical acti$ity is in$ersely proportional to its diameter. hus,
particles with (."" mm or less are used for soil particle size, also &nown as soil texture
determination. he )nited States Department of Agriculture *)S Soil Salinity lab Staff, +,!-.
groups soils into sand *( mm/"."! mm., silt *"."! mm /".""( mm. and clay *0 ".""( mm..
he hydrometer analysis is described by the Stokes law that is based on the relationship
among the $elocity of free falling spherical soil particles in water. he $iscosity of water is affected
by temperature, and hence correction is necessary when measurements are not made at standard
temperature of ("
1
2. here are two important steps in determining soil texture analysis which
ma&e soil particles free and independent particles by chemical treatment and mechanical
dispersion. High speed stirring and addition of sodium metaphosphate or calgon solution will
accomplish the tas&. Density of the suspension is measured using the bouyoucos hydrometer at
different time333 *4ee and 5auder, ,67..
he remo$al of organic matter, carbonates, soluble salts and some oxides may be
necessary depending on the on the concentration of each component and the accuracy expected.
hese soil constituents are remo$ed during pretreatment of the soil samples and
detailed procedures how to remo$e each is gi$en by Sheldric& and 8ang *+,,9., and 4ee and
5auder *+,67..
:;uipment and Apparatus
+. A.S..M. *+,6!., ASM <o. +. +!(H'ype with 5ouyoucos scale in g=>
(. :lectrical stirrer *+",""" rpm motor.
9. Stainless steel blender cup
-. Sedimentation cylinder mar&ed at +'> at top with -" cm space abo$e the mar&
!. Plunger and rubber stopper for +'> cylinder
7. Analytical balance? +"" g capacity, resolution @ "."+ g
A. A timer
6. hermometer
Beagents
+. Deionized water, ASM ype % grade
(. Sodium metaphosphate *<aP19.x.<a(1
9. Sodium carbonate *<a(219.
-. Amyl alcohol
!. Dispersing agent? Dissol$e A.,9 g of <a(219 and 9!.A g of *<aP19.x.<a(1 in + >
$olumetric flas&.
Determine the moisture content of the soil by ta&ing the subsample of the soil if air'dry samples
used.
Procedure
+. 8eigh !" @ "."! g of fine or +"" g of coarse textured air'dried soil pul$erized to pass
+" mesh sie$e *0 (." mm. soil into a blender cup.
(. Add deionized water approximately within +" cm of the rim.
9. Add !" m> of dispensing agent and let it soa& for (" minutes.
-. Place the blender cup on electrical mixer and stir for +" minutes.
!. ransfer the soil suspension to +." > measuring cylinder. )se additional water to transfer
all soil if necessary.
7. Cill to the +." > mar& with deionized water.
A. )se a plunger with an up and down stro&e at least fi$e times to mix sediments from the
bottom of the cylinder.
6. %mmediately place a stopper on the top of the cylinder and mix it by turning upside down
at least fi$e times.
,. Place it on a counter table and immediately start a timer.
+. Slowly lower a dry hydrometer into the suspension, and add three drops of amyl alcohol
if the suspension is co$ered with foam.
(. a&e a reading exactly after -" seconds *Cirst reading..
+". Measure the temperature of the suspension.
9. Bemo$e the hydrometer and place it in deionized water and dry with towel before
reuse.
-. Bepeat steps 7'+9.
++. he a$erage of the two readings is the final $alue.
!. %nclude a blan& *without a soil. following the same steps as for the sample.
7. a&e two readings after 6 hours *Second readings. without mixing and no timing
necessary.
A. Measure the temperature of the suspension.
2alculations
+. Sand D silt *#. E **Cirst reading'blan&.=weight. x +"" *A. 2lay *#. E **Second reading /
blan&.=weight. x +"" *5. Silt *#. E A'5
(. Sand *#. E +""'A'5
9. Cor temperature correction, add or subtract ".97 g=> for each degree abo$e or below ("
1
2,
respecti$ely.
Analytical Performance
Bange and Sensiti$ity
+. he method has a detection limit of (."# sand, silt and clay *dry basis. and is
generally reproducible to within @ 6#.
%nterferences
+. 1rganic matter, carbonates, soluble salts and iron oxides are shown to interfere with
measurement when they are at significant concentration.
2omments
he soa&ing time can be increased to o$ernight with +7 h sha&ing time for better results.
5ut 2lay reading time could be reduced to two hours for less accurate results depending on the
obFecti$e of the analysis.
Beferences
American Society for esting and Materials. +,6!. Standard test method for particle'size analysis
of soils D -(('79 *+,A(.. Annual 5oo& of ASM Standards "-."6?++A'+(A. American Society for
esting Materials, Philadelphia.
American Society for esting and Materials. +,6!. Standard test method for particle'size
analysis of soils D -(('79 *+,A(.. Annual 5oo& of ASM Standards "-."6?++A'+(A.
American Society for esting Materials, Philadelphia.
4ee, 4.8. and G.8. 5auder. +,67. Particle'size Analysis. Pages 969'-++ in Methods of Soil
Analysis Part +. A. Hlute *edi.., Soil Science Society of America 5oo& Series !, Madison,
8isconsin, )SA.
Sheldric&, 5.H. and 2. 8ang. +,,9. Particle size distribution. Pages -,,'!++ in Soil Sampling
and Methods of Analysis, M.B. 2arter *edi.., 2anadian Society of Soil Science, 1ttawa, 1ntario,
2anada.
).S. Soil Salinity >ab. Staff. +,!-. Methods for soil characterization. p. 69'+-A. Diagnosis and
impro$ement of saline and al&ali soils. Agr. Handboo& 7", )SDA, 8ashington, D.2.