Question

Gretta has a sample of soil. She wants to know what its porosity is. How could she test the soil's porosity?

A. Measure the time it takes water to make it through the soil when placed in a funnel.

B. Measure the mass of the soil and then measure its volume.

C. Measure the soil's volume and then the volume of water that the soil can absorb.

D. Measure the amount of water that evaporates from the soil in one hour.

Answer 1

C. Measure the soil's volume and then the volume of water that the soil can absorb.

Answer 2

Answer: C. Measure the soil's volume and then the volume of water that the soil can absorb.

Soil porosity can be defined as the amount of pores or air spaces present inside the soil mass. These pores forms due to the movement of roots, earthworms and insects inside the soil. These pores helps in aeration of the soil and water retention. Both of these factors helps in the growth of the plants.

Porosity can be judged by the measuring the soil's volume and then the volume of water that the soil can absorb. The volume of water found in the soil will depend upon the amount of pores present in the soil hence, reflecting the porosity of the soil.