Soil Water Content, Gravimetric: Weight of soil water per unit of dry soil weight. Volumetric Water Content: Amount (weight or volume) of water in soil core by volume. Instruct students to talk together and formulate ideas about how soil bulk density affects soil health. Elicit responses, filling in the following information. Bulk density affects the following: Ability of water to infiltrate soil Rooting depth of plants Available water capacity Soil porosity Plant nutrient availability Soil microorganism activity Bulk density is a measurement of the weight of dry soil 50% solids (soil particles and organic matter) 50% pore space (filled with air or water) Reiterate that soil bulk density is the weight of dry soil and that the weight is comprised of 50% solids and 50% pore space. Instruct half of the class to discuss and develop a list of factors that might affect the solids (soil particles and organic matter) found in soil. Instruct the other half of the class to discuss and develop a list of factors that might affect the pore space (space for water or air) found in soil. The following factors affect soil bulk density:
Soil Water Content, Gravimetric: Weight of soil water per unit of dry soil weight. Volumetric Water Content: Amount (weight or volume) of water in soil core by volume. Instruct students to talk together and formulate ideas about how soil bulk density affects soil health. Elicit responses, filling in the following information. Bulk density affects the following: Ability of water to infiltrate soil Rooting depth of plants Available water capacity Soil porosity Plant nutrient availability Soil microorganism activity Bulk density is a measurement of the weight of dry soil 50% solids (soil particles and organic matter) 50% pore space (filled with air or water) Reiterate that soil bulk density is the weight of dry soil and that the weight is comprised of 50% solids and 50% pore space. Instruct half of the class to discuss and develop a list of factors that might affect the solids (soil particles and organic matter) found in soil. Instruct the other half of the class to discuss and develop a list of factors that might affect the pore space (space for water or air) found in soil. The following factors affect soil bulk density:
8%20Soil%20Bulk%20Density.docx