Characterizing Soil Based on Chemical and Physical

PropertiesIntern: Ranulfo Morales

Major: Mechanical Engineer-UCSBMentor: Kristin Clark

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Arturo Keller

Project Funded By: L.A Regional Water Quality Board and Friends of the Santa Clara River

BackgroundBackgroundWater quality improvement Water quality improvement in the Santa Clara River.in the Santa Clara River.Decrease pesticides and Decrease pesticides and nutrients daily loads from nutrients daily loads from agriculture runoff into the agriculture runoff into the Santa Clara River.Santa Clara River.Use bioswales and bioactive Use bioswales and bioactive trenches to decontaminate trenches to decontaminate water as a low cost water as a low cost alternative.alternative.

Biotrenches and BioswalesBiotrenches and Bioswales

Flowmeter G W well Timer control valveFertigater w/timer control valve

Biotrenches

Bioswales

145 ft

3 ft

165 ft

Not to scale

14 ft

My ContributionMy ContributionUnderstand a way to study the transport of Understand a way to study the transport of nutrients and pesticides in the swales and trenches.nutrients and pesticides in the swales and trenches.Transport processes:Transport processes:

-- AdsorptionAdsorption-- AdvectionAdvection--dispersion dispersion

Characterize the physical properties of soils:Characterize the physical properties of soils:-- Bulk densityBulk density-- Moisture contentMoisture content-- Specific gravitySpecific gravity-- Particle sizeParticle size

OverviewOverviewPreliminary AnalysisPreliminary Analysis

Collect soil samplesCollect soil samplesProcess using ASTM methodsProcess using ASTM methods

MethodsMethodsMeasure Specific Gravity, Soil Moisture, Hygroscopic Measure Specific Gravity, Soil Moisture, Hygroscopic Moisture, Bulk density, % soil suspension Moisture, Bulk density, % soil suspension

Analysis Analysis Calculate particle size and textureCalculate particle size and texture

ProcessProcess1. Take soil samples

from Bioswales

2. Label and separate samples in plate for air drying.

3. Sieve in 2mm pan

4. Put other half of samples in Al. pan to oven dry

1 2

3 4

I2

I1

I3

I4

I5

M1

M2

M3

M4

M5

O1

O2

O3

O4

O5

MethodsMethodsMeasure Bulk Density

Measure moisture content using the oven dried method

Measure specific gravity of the soil relative to water

Methods and ApparatusMethods and Apparatus

Soil SamplesHydrometer

Plunger

Data Book

DataDataBulk Density (g/mL)

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

Input

1Inp

ut 2

Input

3Inp

ut 4

Input

5

Output 1

Output 2

Output 3

Output 4

Output 5

Middle

1Midd

le 2

Middle

3Midd

le 4

Middle

5

Sample

Bul

k D

ensi

ty (g

/mL)

DataMoisture Content

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

% M

oist

ure

Input Sample Output Sample Middle Sample

DataData Specific Gravity

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

G_s

Sample

Spec

ific

Gra

vity

Input 1

Input 2

Input 3

Input 4

Input 5

Output 1

Output 2

Output 3

Output 4

Output 5

Middle 1

Middle 2

Middle 3

Middle 4

Middle 5

G_s = (K*M_s )/(M_s +M_pw @T_x – Mpws)

Output Samples Middle SamplesInput Samples

ResultsResults

100-28=72%

Output 3 Sample (g)

4 hrs

7

2 min

4 hrs

time% Suspension

Courtesy: USDA-Soil Texture

What We LearnedWhat We Learned* How to use the Hydrometer

* Classify soil texture using USDA Soil Texture Triangle

* Analyze the particle size of the different samples

Future WorkFuture Work* Characterize chemical properties:

- Soil organic matter (SOM)- Dissolved organic matter (DOM)- Cation-exchange capacity (CEC)- Residual pesticides

* Model lateral and vertical transport of ground water

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgmentsKristin Clark

Dr. Arturo KellerPeng Wang

Samantha FreemanDr. Nick Arnold Liu-Yen KramerLuke BawazerDr. Evelyn Hu

Group B

QUESTIONS!!!

http://maxweber.hunter.cuny.edu/pub/eres/EDSPC715_MCINTYRE/MonstersCartoon

Biotrenches and BioswalesBiotrenches and Bioswales

2.5 m

Compost and mulchAdd “HRC” as needed

aquitard

3 m 3 m3 m

Compost and mulchAdd “ORC” as needed

GW flow

Sampling well

2.5 m

Compost and mulchAdd “HRC” as needed

aquitard

3 m 3 m3 m

Compost and mulchAdd “ORC” as needed

GW flow

Sampling well