Question

For determination of moisture content in a soil sample, the moist sample is put in the oven for a period of:

• A. 10 hours
• B. 14 hours
• C. 20 hours
• D. 24 hours

Hint:

The standard for the oven-drying method is crucial to remember: a temperature of 105\(^{\circ}\)C and a duration of 24 hours. This ensures that free water evaporates without burning off the soil's organic matter.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Recall the standard procedure for determining soil moisture content. The oven-drying method is the most common and accurate method for determining the moisture content of a soil sample. This method involves weighing a moist soil sample, drying it in an oven at a specific temperature until it reaches a constant weight, and then weighing it again.
Step 2: Identify the standard drying period. To ensure all the soil water has evaporated, the sample is typically kept in the oven for a period of 24 hours. The temperature is maintained at 105\(^{\circ}\)C to 110\(^{\circ}\)C. After 24 hours, the sample is weighed, and it may be returned to the oven for shorter periods and re-weighed until consecutive weighings show no change, confirming all moisture has been removed. The 24-hour period is the standard initial duration.