The specific gravity of a solid substance is the ratio of the weight of a given

volume of material to the weight of an equal volume of water (at 20°C). In

effect, it tells how much heavier (or lighter) the material is than water For

exact analysis, the specifications require distilled or demineralized water and

all measurements of water and solids should be made at stated temperatures

Apparatus and Reagents

·         Oven

·         Glass bottles

·         Analytical balance

·         Distilled water

Procedures

·         Dry the soil in an oven at 105⁰C until a constant weight is attained

·         Weigh accurately a glass bottle of known volume and fill it with dried soil

·         Fill another pre-weighted glass bottle of same volume with distilled water

·         The specific gravity of a portion of sample soil obtained with the formula:

                                   Specific gravity: (A₁-A₀)/( B₁-B₀)

                                   Where A₀ is the weight empty and dried glass bottle

                                      A₁ is the weight of glass bottle with dried soil

                                      B₀ is the weight of second empty and dried glass bottle

                                      B₁ is the weight of glass bottle with distilled water

References

1. George E., Rolf S., John R.; Methods of Soil, plant and water analysis;3^rd ed; p65

2.Sadhan C. Anand Dev G.; Handbook of Water, air and soil analysis; international E publication;2014

3.Haluschak P. Laboratory Methods of Soil Analysis Canada-Manitoba Soil Survey, April 2006