Making Sense of Particle-Size Distribution (continued)

In slot A, enter the 2-minute hydrometer reading.

2 minute hydrometer reading _______

In slot B, enter the 2-minute temperature reading.

2 minute temperature reading _______°C

In slot C, enter the grams of soil/L from the conversion table (Table SOIL-L-1).

Grams/L of soil (silt + clay) from table _______g

In slot D, multiply the difference between the temperature reading (slot B) and 20°C by .36. [0.36 x (B-20°C)]

Temperature correction

[0.36 x ( B_______ - 20)] = _______g

In slot E, enter the sum of grams of soil/L and the temperature correction (C + D).

Corrected silt and clay in suspension (C+D)

C_______ + D_______ = _______g

In slot F, multiply the number in slot E by .5 to correct for the fact that you have used a 500mL cylinder.

Grams of soil (silt + clay) in 500mL

(E_______ x 0.5) = _______g

In slot G, find the grams of sand in your sample, by subtracting grams of silt and clay (slot F) from the initial 25g total soil in the sample.

Grams of sand in sample

(25g — F_________) = _______g

Percent Sand

[(G_______ / 25) x 100]= _______%

In slot I, enter the specific gravity measurement at 24 hours.

24-hour specific gravity reading

(Using the hydrometer)

In slot J, enter the 24-hour temperature reading.

24-hour temperature reading _______°C

In slot K, enter the grams of soil/L from the conversion table (Table SOIL-L-1).

Grams/L of soil (clay) from table _______g

In slot L, multiply the difference between the temperature reading (slot J) and 20°C by .36.

Temperature correction [0.36 x (B-20°C)]

[0.36 x ( J_______ - 20°C)] = _______g

In slot M, enter the sum of grams of soil/L and the temperature correction (K + L).

Corrected clay in suspension (C+D)

K_______ + L_______ = _______g

In slot N, multiply the number in slot M by .5 to correct for the fact that you have used a 500mL cylinder.

Grams of soil (clay) in 500mL

(M_______ x 0.5) = _______g

Percent Clay

[(N_______ / 25) x 100]= _______%

In slot P, determine the grams of silt by adding the grams of sand (slot G) and grams of clay (slot N) and subtracting the result from 25.

Grams of silt

In slot Q, determine the exact percentage of silt, by dividing grams of silt by the total amount of soil (25g) and multiplying by 100.

Percent Silt