CIVE 2806 – GROUP 3 (SOIL LAB) REPORT

EXPERIMENT 1.0 – Moisture Content Test (Oven Drying Method)

INTRODUCTION

One of the commonest methods of determining soil moisture content is the oven-dry method.
The soil moisture content of soil is the quantity of water it contains. Water content is used in a
wide range of scientific and technical areas and is expressed as a ratio, which can range from
0 (completely dry) to the value of the materials’ porosity at saturation. It consists of taking a
soil sample of approximately 200g, determining its exact weight, and drying the sample in an
oven at a temperature of 105 °C to 110°C for 18-24 hours, then weighing the sample and
determining the moisture loss by subtracting the oven-dry weight from the moist weight. The
method may be applied to fine, medium and coarse grained soils for particle sizes from 2 mm
to > 10 mm.

Moisture content is expressed as the ratio of the mass of water in a sample to the mass of solids
in the sample a percentage of the oven-dry weight of the soil. For example, if a 212g moist soil
sample weighs 197g after drying, the percentage of moisture is calculated by dividing 197 into
15, which gives 7.6%. Always subtract the weight of the container from both the moist and
dry-weight determinations. The drying oven method is a thermogravimetric method (loss on
drying) in which the soil sample is dried for a defined period of time at constant temperature.
The moisture content is determined by weighing the sample before and after drying and
determining the difference.

OBJECTIVE

 To determine the moisture (water) content of soil sample by using oven drying method.
CIVE 2806 – GROUP 3 (SOIL LAB) REPORT

APPARATUS

 Drying Oven (with accurate temperature control and temperature gauge)

 Balance (with accuracy to 0.01 g)
 Tray
 Spatulas
 Sample Containers

PROCEDURE

 Soil Sample Preparation

1. Mix the sample thoroughly in a tray using spatulas or a small scoop or trowel.
2. Divide the sample equally into two or more portions.
3. Take three portions of approximately equal mass of sample for moisture content
determination.

 Moisture Content Test

1. Take three dry, clean sample containers and weigh them to the nearest 0.01g.
2. Fill a portion of the sample to a container and weight it to the nearest 0.01g. Repeat
this step for the 2nd and 3rd portion.
3. Dry the samples in the oven at 105˚C to 110˚C for about 18 to 24 hours.
4. After drying, remove the sample from the oven and allow it to cool.

RESULT & CALCULATION

The moisture content of the soil, w is calculated as percentage of the dry soil mass.
𝑀2 − 𝑀3
𝑤= × 100%
𝑀3 − 𝑀1
Where:
M1 = mass of container (g).
M2 = mass of container and wet soil sample (g).
M3 = mass of container and dry sample (g).
w = the moisture content (%).
CIVE 2806 – GROUP 3 (SOIL LAB) REPORT

MPH

M1 = Mass of container =17.95g

M2 = Mass of container + wet soil =83.12g

M3 = Mass of container + dry soil =74.28g

M4 = Mass of soil (M3 – M1) =56.33g

M5 = Mass of moisture (M2 – M3) =8.84g

M6 = Moisture content (M5 x 100) /M4 =15.69%

MDB

M1 = Mass of container =17.85g

M2 = Mass of container + wet soil =101.47g

M3 = Mass of container + dry soil =90.94g

M4 = Mass of soil (M3 – M1) =73.09g

M5 = Mass of moisture (M2 – M3) =10.53g

M6 = Moisture content (M5 x 100) /M4 =14.41%

MDR

M1 = Mass of container =18.83g

M2 = Mass of container + wet soil =66.20g

M3 = Mass of container + dry soil =61.51g

M4 = Mass of soil (M3 – M1) =42.68g

M5 = Mass of moisture (M2 – M3) =4.69g

M6 = Moisture content (M5 x 100) /M4 =10.99%

Mavg = Average Moisture Content

= (M6MPH + M6MDB + M6MDR) /3

= 13.70 %
CIVE 2806 – GROUP 3 (SOIL LAB) REPORT

DISCUSSION

Oven drying method is widely used in determination of moisture content. Water in soil is
removed due to heating at 105 ˚C. Losses of weight due to vaporization of water is taken as
weight of moisture.

During experiment, the soil obtained from PMU Segambut Q.L is used as the sample. The
sample was firstly remove from the package by using spatula. The well-mixed sample was then
divide into 3 portions in order for us to get the average moisture content of the soil sample after
the experiment. The three portions of soil sample were then transfer to three containers for
oven drying purpose. The mass of each container, mass of container + soil in wet is weight and
the data are recorded. Three portion of soil is then dried in the oven for 18 to 24 hours at the
temperature of 105˚C to ensure the moisture contain in the soil is completely dry out. The soil
sample had been cooled after the oven drying process and the mass of each container together
with the dry soil is weight and the data is recorded. From the data we recorded, we can calculate
the mass of soil and moisture. From all of these data we are able to obtain the moisture content
of the soil sample in every container by using the formula:
𝑀2 − 𝑀3
𝑤= × 100%
𝑀3 − 𝑀1
The moisture content of container label MPH is 15.69%, MDB is 14.41% while MDR is
10.99%. The average moisture content of soil sample among these three containers are 13.70%.

CONCLUSION

After the experiment, we can now determine the moisture (water) content of soil sample by
using oven drying method. The moisture content of sample soil in container MPH is 15.69%,
MDB 14.41% and MDR is 10.99%. The moisture content of container MDR shows a huge
difference compared to MPH and MDB may due to the unequally divide of portion. While the
average moisture content of the sample soil is 13.70%.

RECOMMENDATION

 Sample soil should be equally divide into 3 portion so that every containers can have almost
similar amount of soil and the moisture content of each portion will not have a huge
different.
 The sample inside the sample containers should be cover all the time before the oven drying
process to maintain the moisture and should avoid the sample soil exposed to the
atmosphere for a long time.
 The containers used must be always clean and dry to minimize the error of the result.
CIVE 2806 – GROUP 3 (SOIL LAB) REPORT

REFERENCES
1. D2216-10 (Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture)
Content of Soil and Rock by Mass).

2. Determining the Moisture Content of Soil (Conventional Oven Method), Chapter 3.

(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://eng.ucmerced.edu/snsjho/files/MHWG/Laboratory/Soils/Protocol/Chapter_3_Mois
ture_content.pdf

3. Small Scale Irrigation Systems. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nzdl.org/gsdlmod?e=d-

00000-00---off-0cdl--00-0----0-10-0---0---0direct-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about--
-00-0-1-00-0--4----0-0-11-10-0utfZz-8-
00&cl=CL1.136&d=HASH3105beaa24976abbef784e.7.2>.

APPENDIX

FIGURE 1: Removing of soil sample FIGURE 2: Mass of wet soil +

from the package by using spatula. container (before drying) is weight

FIGURE 3: Mass of dry soil +

container (after drying) is weight