i) This is commonly adopted and simplest method for determination of water content of a soil sample in the laboratory.
ii) The method basically consists of drying a weighed moist sample of soil in an oven at a controlled temperature for a period of twenty four hours after which the dry weight of the sample is taken.
iii) The drying of soil is recommended at a temperature of 105o -110o C as temperature higher than 110o Cmay break the crystalline structure of crystallization thus giving wrong results
iv) A lower temperature of 60o C is recommended for highly organic soils at 110o C oxidation of organic matter may take place.
v) Sand and gravels require less time to dry, i.e. 4 to 6 hours but routine laboratory procedure is for drying for twenty four hours at 105o -110o C.
vi) A clean non-corrodible container is weighed within 0.001 gm accuracy.
vii) About 30-40 gm of moist soil sample is placed in it and weighed accurately.
viii) It is then placed in the oven for drying at 1100 C for 24 hours.
ix) After 24 hours, it is taken out allowed to cool and weighed again
The water content is then calculated as shown below:
Let W1 = Weight of container
W2 = Weight of container with moist sample
W3 = Weight of container with dried sample
Weight of water Ww = W2 - W3
Weight of solids Ws = W1 W1
The above table gives the minimum quantity of soil sample to be taken for test.