What is percolation rate of water in soil? How do you measure it? Explain the answer with proper example and diagrams.
Answers
Explanation:
Percolation is the property of absorption of water by soil.
If we pour a bottle of water on the floor and another bottle of water in the soil, the water on the floor will flow down but water in the soil will be absorbed.
The percolation rate is the amount of water absorbed by any soil at any given time.
Formula for calculating percolation rate is,
Percolation rate (ml/min) = amount of water (ml) / percolation time (min).
For example, If 200 ml of water is percolated through the soil sample in 40 min. Calculate the rate of percolation.
Solution – Rate of percolation is = amount of water (ml)/ percolation time (min)
= 200 ml/ 40 min
= 5 ml/ min
Ans- The rate of percolation is 5 ml/ min.
Moisture in soil
Moisture is the amount of water present in soil.
During summer, the water content in the soil evaporates and moves up which reflect the sunlight, thus the air above soil seems to shimmer.
Absorption of water by soil
Different soil samples absorb water in different extent.
The absorption of water by different soil can be find out by taking 50g of different soil samples.
Pour the soil in different funnels placed in different beakers and pour water in the soil with the help of measuring cylinders.
Continue pouring until it starts dripping.
Now, check the amount of water left in the measuring cylinder and subtract it from the initial amount which was taken.
The resulted amount of water is retained by the soil.
