Contact
soilphysicslab@slu.se, 018-67 34 80
Internal SLU extension: 3480
At the Soil Physics Laboratory we prepare soil samples and determine their soil physical properties. Many of these properties are fundamental to measure in order to understand how the soil interacts with water, nutrients and vegetation, both for research analyses and practical applications. Soil physical properties are for example important for modelling water balances or estimate nutrient or sediment losses in most types of land use.
We analyze soil physical properties for a range of soils and purposes on agriculture and forest land, meadows, as well as urban/peri-urban land. Please do contact for specific questions and needs.
Due to unforeseen changes in staff, we will have to pause all analyses in the Soil Physics Laboratory at the Department of Soil and Environment until further notice. We work to have services starting in August 2023. We understand this cause unforeseen disruption. If we can make arrangements for your specific order , please contact Jennie Barron for discussion.
Soil samples can be brought or sent to us as loose soil or as undisturbed soil samples, depending on what analyses should be performed. Short descriptions of the methods we use are listed below.
Soil samples can be brought or sent to us as loose soil or as undisturbed soil samples, depending on what analyses should be performed. Short descriptions of the methods we use are listed below.
For many of the analyses the original soil sample is first air-dried, grinded and sieved at 2 mm mesh to get the “prepared fine soil sample”.
The particle size distribution in a soil sample is determined with different methods as related to fraction size. The content of particles larger than 2 mm are determined in the fine soil preparation by dry sieving of the air-dried, grinded sample. For determining the content of particles smaller than 2 mm, a combination of wet sieving (0.06-2 mm) and pipette method (<0.2 mm) is performed with the prepared fine soil. The fractions that can be obtained are: Coarse sand (0.6-2 mm), Medium sand (0.2-0.6 mm), Fine sand (0.06-0.2 mm), Coarse silt (0.02-0.06 mm), Medium silt (0.006-0.02 mm), Fine silt (0.002-0.006 mm) and Clay (< 0.002 mm).
We also have the recent method of integral suspension pressure (ISP) from METER called PARIO. PARIO automatically measures pressure and temperature in a suspension of soil particles , using Stokes law to estimate particle sizes. This data is combined in the program with the sand content obtained from the wet sieving. The program estimates the content of the clay (<0.002 mm), fine silt (0.002-0.0063 mm), middle silt (0.0063-0.02 mm), coarse silt (0.02-0.063 mm), fine sand (0.063—0.2 mm), middle sand (0.2-0.63 mm) and coarse sand (0.63-2 mm).
Furthermore, particle sizes in the range from 2 mm to 0.000010 mm (10 nm) can be determined with laser scattering particle size distribution analyzer (partica LA-950 V2 from HORIBA). This analysis is carried out in solvent (water) that allows for measuring dry (soil) and wet (water) samples.
Original soil sample is weighed, oven-dried overnight at 105° C and then weighed again. The water content is then calculated from weight before and after oven-drying (percentage by weight).
Prepared fine soil sample is oven-dried overnight at 105°C to get rid of water. The sample is subsequently oven-dried at 550°C for 4 hours to get the loss on ignition. The organic matter content is approximated from the loss on ignition with a reduction factor related to clay content.
Prepared fine soil sample is wetted and placed in a pressure plate extractor at 1500 kPa to get the water content remaining at -1500 kPa soil water pressure.
Particle density is calculated from the volume displacement of prepared fine soil sample in a flask with ethanol.
At the Soil Physics Laboratory we use cylinders with 5 or 10 cm height, 7.5 cm outer diameter, and 7.2 cm inner diameter to analyze the soil core properties.
Water retention properties are measured by placing soil cylinder samples in sandbox (-0.05 to -10 kPa), on suction plate (-10 to -60 kPa), and in pressure plate extractor (-60 kPa to -100 kPa) and then oven dried to calculate the water content and dry bulk density in the soils.
The last step for the water retention curve is the wilting point in pressure plate extractor (-1500 kPa) using prepared fine soil sample.
Field water content (percentage by volume) and dry bulk density are obtained by oven-drying the soil cylinder samples at 105°C during 3 days, and base calculations on weight before and after drying and cylinder or soil core volume.
Porosity is calculated from dry bulk density and particle density values.
Saturated hydraulic conductivity is estimated by means of a constant head permeameter. Water passes through the water saturated soil cylinder sample at a constant water head, and it is collected in a graduated cylinder at the outlet of the sample. The saturated hydraulic conductivity is then calculated from water head, soil sample length, water temperature and outflow velocity.
The actual volume of the core sample after drying in the oven at 105°C is measured, and compared with the original cylinder volume.
Soil cylinders with exact volume. Otherwise preparation is required (trim and/or measuring actual volume).
SOIL CYLINDERS | |
Price/Sample | |
Water retention properties** | 214 |
1 tension | |
Dry Bulk Density | |
+ Porosity (Particle density)** | 321 |
+ Extra tension | 151 |
+ Actual field water content | 75 |
Actual field water content | 235 |
Dry bulk density | |
Saturated hydraulic conductivity | 300 |
Dry bulk density | 161 |
Shrinkage | 97 |
Porosity** | 483 |
Dry bulk density | |
Particle density | |
Rent cylinders 5 / 10 cm height, 7,20 cm diameter | 42 |
Damager or lost cylinders | 579 |
** It is necessary to provide soil cylinders, but also loose soil for the particle density calculations.
Soil that has been air dried (<5% water content, max. temp. 35°C) and sieved at 2 mm. Fresh soil requires preparation.
LOOSE SOIL SAMPLES |
|
Price/Sample | |
Sample preparation (air dry, grind and sieve at 2 mm) | 182 |
Soil particle size distribution. Laser analysis in soil samples | 869 |
Soil particle size distribution. Laser analysis in water samples | 354 |
Soil particle size distribution. PARIO | 869 |
Soil particle size distribution (0-20 mm) | 869 |
Loss on ignition | |
Pipette method and wet sieving (0-2 mm) | |
Gravel content (2-20 mm) | |
Gravimetric water content | 118 |
Loss on ignition | 139 |
Wilting point | 397 |
Particle density | 322 |
This information is required in the form to fill before delivering the soil samples:
Contact person (the responsible person of the samples)
Sampling date
Sampling place / Samples origin
Project
Special conditions in the soil (if the soil samples are polluted by for example heavy metals, if the samples are fresh and have to be kept in fridge, etc)
Information for invoice (name, department, project number)
After analyses (Inform about keeping, sending back or discarding samples. If no information is given on this, the samples will be discarded after 6 months of sending the results of the analyses)
List of samples (See instructions in the form)
Pay attention about what type of samples is necessary for your test. In some cases it is necessary both, loose soil and cylinders.
Fill the form that you will find in the website: mark the analyses that will be performed and prepare the samples list. Do not use long names or codes (number codes maximum 6 digits).
(in bags, cups, boxes, containers, etc): Soil that has been prepared: air dried (max. 35°C, water content <5%), grinded and sieved at 2 mm, or fresh soil.
OBS: If the samples are not air dried grinded and sieved, the preparation will be done in the laboratory (see the price list).
FRESH SOIL: Send enough soil that for the different analysis according to the list below. Very important: do not send more than 2 kg.
Cylinders can be rented from the Soil Physics Laboratory (5 or 10 cm height, 7.5 cm outer diameter, and 7.2 cm inner diameter).
The cylinders can be rented for short periods to collect undisturbed soil samples or to prepare samples and then to send them back to the laboratory. In the case of non-undisturbed samples, loose soil can be placed in cylinders and repacked to relevant density by the customer). To rent cylinders it is necessary to specify how many cylinders will be rented, for how long (the day to pick up and return), and which analyses that will be performed in the laboratory. It is also necessary to specify the need of sliding hammer or not for sampling, as lids and filter paper (for keeping the soil in the cylinder).
It is also possible to send us your own cylinders. In this case, a fee to handle them (washing etc) will be included. The transport costs to return the cylinders will be covered by the customer. If the weights of the cylinders are not provided, the raw data (cylinder+soil weights) will be sent as results.
Lab order form (excel sheet for download)
Contact us at soilphysicslab@slu.se
Department of Soil and Environment, Lennart Hjelms väg 9, Uppsala (Rooms A3071 and A3075)
Department of Soil and Environment
Gerda Nilssons väg 5
756 51 Uppsala, SWEDEN
Tel +46(0)18-67 30 05
Opening hours: 08.30-15.00 (closed for lunch 11.30-12.30)
References for quality assurance of analysis methods:
Nimblad Svensson, D., I. Messing, J. Barron. 2022. An investigation in laser diffraction soil particle size distribution analysis to obtain compatible results with sieve and pipette method. Soil And Tillage Research Volume 223, September 2022, 105450 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2022.105450
soilphysicslab@slu.se, 018-67 34 80
Internal SLU extension: 3480
Agricultural Water Management - read about our research in this area