| | i | i BEREEREG& Ps tie ae ra * oe i a , \ . be) . o¢ | so 6 \ , ‘| P ul q Fy i P rr € ~- $j aa zs os a ee ae yt] re es a eS THESIS [ay 5 THS ECHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ms * Tee oS. : va “opt bags : \ Sh te os ie Sahat er Fee a ‘ >. c wo ith owe MRSS e 4, ean ~-THHEHSIS- C A P TL GD AR Y R I S & O F WA T E R I WN § 0 I L Se BY a4 , Jonn B Staoawart. ee Michivan Acricultural College. 1901, THESIS Ad 115. IHES CAPILLARY RIS 484 0 F WATER IN SOILS e As the study of the physicsl1 conditions of the soil progresses, many now and iwmisveloped fields for investigation apnear. Among these is the question of the relative impottanes of lahoratoty oxperinents as Applied to field operations. Many expsriments carried on under laporatory conditions promis9s excel- lent results, but when put under fisld coniitions nave nroven almost tne reverse of what the lan oratory ex rinent showed, 81t, nevartneless in some questions thers is a possibility of sstehnlishing a ratio between labomtory exnerinental coniitions and field operations, so that knowing the ons ws ean 9s- tablish the other with a mors or 19ss degree of ac— curacy by mathematical calculation. Such a ratio is thoucht possible of establishment between ths capillary Yis3s Of water in air dry soils and in moist soils. It is quite 9 simple and easy task to determine by experinent tha hnisnt to which water will rise, by capillarity, in 2ir dry soils, m1t unless we can us9 this in some way to detormine the hircrt to which water will rise, by cxpillarity, in moist soils it is of nut little practical use, beecauss land under asrieultural comiitions is alwavs moist, ani to nake An sxp2rinental determination of the hieht to which wator will riss by capillary action in moist coils -2~=— is no easy task. Vary little work hes vot haesn done salons ths line of establishing a definite ralsation hetween tno night towhich water will rise by eapillarity in air dry soils am in moist soils. A 1littis work hes haen done along this line of investigation in tre United States Department of Arricultures, Division of Soils, by Lyman J. Briggs, mit so far as IT know no extensive results nav9a heen pudlisned. It was throuch the suggestion of Mr RBriscss tmt I was iniuesd to take up this work for my thesis, under tno epuidance of Prof, Joseph A, Jarferv, A deserintion of my exveriment as carried out is 43 follows: 1- Two sets of hrass tubes 1 inch in diameter were secured. Ones set 18 inenss long to he used with +69 aAlrdry soils, and the other set 54 inecnas long to be used with tre moist soils. ‘To one end of these t'1h9s was soldered a piece of wire gauze, In order to mak9s these tubes longer if tns soils required it a mimoer of short pieces varving from 2 to 8 inches were spliced on with sealine wax and pavar as needed. 2- A pint glass fruit jar was sscured for sach tubs, ani a hole was punched in the centre of the cover of asach, larzs snough to let the brass tiuhe. pass through, Another hole shout 3/68 of an inch Al — 4n Aiameater was punched at the side of the centrs hole ant in this was soldered 2 little brass tube, which projected about an inch #hove the top of the eover and Allowed the filling of the can with watar without removine the cover, Anothav small nole was pune red in tre cover to allow the air to vacs in as the water was tsren up by the soil. 38- Tne oni of the drass tudes covered with the £a1Z9 was inserted into tho jars through the holes made in the cover, ani allowed to come to within + inch of tre bottom of the jar. With the tube in this position it was soldered to thea covar, The apnaratus conpleted as dsserived ahnove rasembled the fieure on tne next page, Geess ger ~Hh— The tunes wers filled with soil in what seemed to me the most netral way. They were first removed from the jar by unscrewing the top, when this was jones, a nalf inch of coarsely ground quartz sand was put in the bottom, the tube was tren filled with Ary soil and packed by tavnving on the outsiie of the tube with a small stick, more soil vnaing added As rast as it settled until the tube was full and no more settling took place from the tapping. The tubs was now mounted in tre jar, the cover screwed down tight, ani the can filled about 2/3 full of water (distilled water was used) ani the water tune sealed. his maia tre only possible sseane for the water through the eolumn of soil in the tunes, The tuve filled with soil and tms mounted was w4iened upon a torsion balances seals avory third day ani the loss recorded. If tre loses continued for mors than nines days, the column was mais longer, ari if no loss avpesared in nines dasys the -olumn was mana shorter, This by shortening or lengthening the column a point was finally reacnsd wheres ters was vractical- ly no loss of weirht vy evaporation, bit if 2 little of the soil was renoved ard tre column made shorter, loss was apoarent. This voint in inehes above the Level of the water in the jar was taten 9s the hight Sowhich water would rise by esvnillarity in tr air dry soil used. Por moist soils the tubes were filled in the same way as for dary soils. When filled the soil column was moistened vy forcing water up from ths hnotton, naver allowing the water, however, to cone over the surfaces of the soil in the ths When ths soil was this saturated it was allowed to irain three or four days, then mounted 97s in case of dry soils. Ths t11h4s this mounted were weirhesd every threes days ani if avanotTation eased loss of wsight continuously for mora than fifteen days the column was made longer by aliing drv soil, ths wmle saturated, drainsd and asain weighed. If ths tune did not stow continuois Loss my svanoration for mors than twelve days gone soil was t2ken away and +> 5 column trys mata shorter. %v rapeatsed trials in this way a point was finally reach- 6d, as in the other case, where the weisht remainsd just constant. The difference in inchss between this point and the water level in the jar was taten as the hignt to which water would rise by cavillarity in that Soil when moist. Tne experinsent was carried on in the same manner with glass tihes, only instead of soldering the jar covers to the siass tubes they wars fastened with $991inNg wax mixed with paraffin, Physical Charactoristics of The Soilse Three soils, all sams, ars compared. They aiffer- a1 considerably, however, in tne size of their par- tieles, and are aesignated for eonvenienes in rerer- ance ny Noe 1, NO &, and No. 3, arranges accor .ing to tneir coarseness, ths enarsest ons neing Noe le mhagse soils analysed mechanically wers found to be eomposed as shown in table No. Ie Tabple Noe le Showing the mean of threes gseanarate mochanical ansivsss of tre soils romnarTade Sand Silt Clay Soil No, 3-.05 MM. . Ob-eOL MM. ~U1-. 0OOL M.M. Ee —T 37,85 % 7h e133 % 2 98,29 % 1.166 % 2313 % 3 88,088 % 7-338 % 2733 % Tt is s9en by this tadle tnat the werage size of tre svil particles dscreass from soil No. 1 to soil NO. 3, SOLL NO 3 containing considsrably more clay and less coarse sand tran soil No. 1k So for con- venience in comparing tm size of tre soil particles with tre results obtained from my 9xps5rineant with thess soils, a t2b19 is prepared which contains the mean of tnres separate detorminations of tho relative size of t™ soil grains for each soil by two methods. First, —B— King's Aspirator Method, by which, 35 he ealis it, tne "Effective" size of tne soil particios ave dster- mined; ani, second, hy the method sed at Washington for computing the averave size of the snil narticles from 9 mechanical analyses of the soil. Table No, IIe Showing the relatives size of tre soil grains aeeotiing to the two methods indicatal anova, "uffective® sizedssignates King's method. rAvaracen size desionates mathod used at Washincton, WErTective size "Averate" siza Nittorsnces. Soil No. Soil serains S011 grains __ 1 '¢ 3865 MM. ©9523 NMeM. « 33425 MM. 2 : 0 2337 MMe e 93526 MoM. e 19844 MM, 3 © 98557 MM. © 92909 Me Me © 95849 MLM, -sttlieen_ coma While the results from the analyses of these Ssolls, by hoth methoig, show,in conmon, a marked decrease in the size of the soil particles from soil NO. 1 to soil No 3, it is found hy coparine them relatively with the results of My 9xnos3riment that the "Ettéctive" size seemed to offer batter aivantaces in computation than the"averacen siz9, so is used, Results 29d Gone 118i9nNSe The results of my experiment, on whieh all of the naomarisons 27a nased, ava yecormied in thes following $2010. Table Noe Ile Showine hirent in inc™s that wator nose by cap—- {liarity in tne tnres soils stiiiede Soil No. 1 Soil Vo. 2 Foil No.3 Kind of Rise in Rise in Rise in tubes used. incnes when Anenss wnen inehnes when — ary “moist dary moist «ary moist Brass 12.50 44.290 23.00 55.90 34.90 867,25 ¢1Lass 13.90 46,99 23.50 58.59 35.50 723,590 Averazce 12.75 45.00 23.25 58.75 34.75 689.875 Niffserence 320 25 33,50 352125 A conmarism of tne results in this table shows that as the size of tre soil particles decrease, the hight to whieh wator rises, hy capillarity, in the soils, both wren dry ani when moist, inersasss; and it also shows that as the size of tne soil particlas decraass, the differences between the hirht to which water rises, by capillarity, in ths soils, when dry ani when moist, inecrsasses, From this conunarison I draw two separate conelusions which ss9m from my stv 490 nA laws that govern the capillary rise of wator, in soils, ~10- l- The differences vstween the night in inchss, to which water rises hy eapiliarity in two aAitferent soils when moist divided vy tne aift the hights in inches to which water rises by capillar- ity in tre same two soils when dry, “ivas tne ratio neatween the difference in hight to which watar rises ov capillarity in one soil when moist ani wren dty to the difference in hight to which wa tar rises in another soil when moist and when Tye The ratio for these thre? soils is obtained tims: 3 § M-S'M - 69,875-45 = 24,425— 1.181 ratio. sds’ d 34,75-15,75h 2 S°M-S'M - 56.75-45 - 11,75 - 1.119 ratio. Wd-s7d #35. 55-1% ° s°M-S M - 69,875-68.75 - 13.195 - 1.141 ratio. le 13141. 13. 8+ 1.141 1-183 mean ratio. 3 — The mean of ths threes ratios obtainai by the three different comparisons of the rise of thse water in the three soils, boing used. Now, sines this mean ratio does ot differ hy more than .92 of a unit from any ons of tne ssparate ratios from wrich it was derived, it miy b9 taken as a constant » ov whien if 478 7is9 of water in a soil wrisar doth moist and Agy ecandifions be taten ss a standard, and ths rise of water in another soil when dfy be known, ths rise of water in this last soil when moist my ba ca lm@mlated, -1l- and a forma for tre cauputation of the viso of water vy capillarity in moist soils hacad on tha shove state ment may n3 statai thus: H—h - 1.13 Whenee n -(1.13xD) # h, when, —S——- = nh - hieht in incres water rises in standard soll when ~ moiste ) - difference in hicht, in inenss, watar risss in —~ gtandard soil and compared soil wnen ary. 1.13 - ratio obtained ahove, 4 - nieht sought, in inches. Suhbetitutineg in this form la CTimires from my sxporiment and solving for ths hights that watar rises in ths soils when moist, tho vesults differ Prom those of the esxnorinent 2s shown in this tabla. Tanle Now IVe Showing the differencs between observed ami cal- culated hights of riss of water for tha three soils when noist. Sotl usad as Soi Ubservsd Tise Salenlated Differ— et alate studied. inincnss,. rise in BNSF. 1:° 498-6 NQ 2, No. le 45.990 44,839 -e ll NO. le N Oo Be 56. 7H 56,87 e 13 No. le. NO. 36 69,875 69.38 _ e 915 It is shown by the column of differences in this table thet the calculatei hights to which watar risss ny ecapillarity in the three soils when moist qoes not differ from tna observed hight by mors than -13— ~12 of an inch, so we may say that for tness tnrse soils the law is true. A~- The difference, in MoM. DOtween thro sffactive size of tne soil gmins of two soils divided by ths difference in inches vetwesn tres hients that water risss in the same two soils wren dry or when moist, rivas tre change in the effective size of tre soil erains, that causes a change of ons inch in the hight $90 which water rises in a soil whon dry or whan moist resvectively. The chance in the sf’etivea size of soil grains which causes a differences of one inch in tne hight to which water will rise is obtained this, in case I for ary soil, letting H. stand for effective size of soil grains, and S for soil. Gas9 I. S E-SE -.3863 ~ ,08558 MM. — .3008 M.Me—. 01369 MoM. wa- wd - 84 %75 - 18.75 55 gs a - $B — .3383-.2337 MM. — = 21526 MM, -.91453 MoM. gz - ° an 336 35 — 13. 7b 10. sto 52 - - 3 2 = 22337-08858 MM. — 214818 MeMe - 401988 Mad, Moan — 401369 MMe + 291453 MoMe + 691288 MMe- .O1371.M, 3 And thus, in S%ase II, for moist soils, Gase II, 3 & -~ g° gE _°.” 3863-08558 M. Me ~- e 39093 Me Me - ©9191 Me Me SM - 3N~ ~69.876-45 ~~ 24.875 7 / gms Eo — « 3863~,.2337 MoM. —21526 MoM. — 291999 Me Me 8 ee ee een ie sl 566.75 ~— 45 Li. 75 - SEzE- _ sx ih = = BE aTE ee M. Me - 044819 ~.91199 Me Me -13— Maan — ,0191 MM. + 201909 MiMe + 621199 Mette — » 2L218M.M. 7-7 3 It is som from the abowes thst in sither case #n9 means of the results obtainsi from tho three dif- ferent comparisms does not differ from ths results of any one of the comparisons »v 19%9 than .013 MM Now if these means for Gases I and Gass IT he teen as A constunt which is the chances in ths sffectivs size of the soil rrains that causes a differences of one inch in the nisht to which water rises in the soils, wnen dry andi when moist resvectively, ani if the hight, in tne NSS to which water rises in a soil both when ary and, moi st, and the effective size of the soil «rains of the sams soil pve taven as aq Standard, the hight to which water will rise in any soll, whstnsr ayy or moist, may v9 computed, providing we know the affective size of the soil erains of that soil. Aceoming to this a fornmila for Case No, tT, whan the soil is dry, may he ststed thus: a+ n- 8 when d — Eftective size of staniari soil's grains — Er fective size of compared soil's grains, K = constant .0137 obtained ANOV @, n - hight of rise in inches in standari soil, x =- hient of rise in inehss in eommarsd soil. And a formula for Case No, fT, whon the soil is moist, may 43 stated tims: Sm ™ a?¢n = 7 nen letters TevTraesent sama as in Case Noe T,axeeut on ~1 L4— 4g for moist goils instead of dry soilse If figures from the soils used in ny ne substituted in these formulas, rasults which aiffer from tnase of the exvsrinent snowing differences betwoen ovserved Tadla NO. Ve g ris9 of water sxverinent are obtained as follows: nicht of riso of water and calculated hient of rise of water in the trree soils studied. Wor moist ¢ For Dw Soil. oil. Soil used] Soil |Observ4+Calen Dif- Nn3s9req Calenus Dif- as stud+ aed lated | fer~ ved lated | fen standaralied |high jhigh | ence high | high ence in in in in in in nehes |inches| inches}jinches| inchss| inches Noe 2. | NO. ld 12.75,12211 ~~ 84 1145.90] 44417 | —-- 33 N De le NOP: .23. 25 23.84 e 84 15 Be 75 57,68 e383 NOe 3. | NO. 3q-. 34. 75) 34. 71 =~» 04 139, 875 69.81 | ~. 065 Tha difference hetween the hisht to which water rises in soil from exveriment ani from computation is, ag $931 in the table, not very sreat, not differing in any ec 7 y case Y more than .85 inches, so from this I eonelvie that, thes three soils whst soens to baa law of capillarity governing the relation between the etrative size of the soil erains ani ths hicht to which wator rises by capillarity in soils holds t 04 Tor thase three soils, - 1|5— It mist be renemered tmt toe abowe statonents hava heen drawn from 2 sing1s exyvsrinent with threes soils, and that while they s3em to be true for thess soils they may not hold for all soils. That remains to be vroven, Decc: +2