Project properties
Title Can Vapor Equilibriation be used to bring soil samples
to a certain pF value?
Group Soil Physics and Land Management group
Project type thesis
Credits 24-39
Supervisor(s) Harm Gooren
Examiner(s) Coen Ritsema
Contact info harm.gooren@wur.nl, +31 317 483 707
Begin date 2019/05/01
End date
Description What is the Problem?

For many types of Soil Physical measurements to be compared properly, the soil should be brought to a certain pF value. This can for example be done at a sandbox or in in a pressure chamber. However, these methods are often not suitable for soil samples that are in the form of aggregates of other shapes.

In literature the option is proposed to us a salt solution in a closed chamber and to use Vapor Equilibriation to bring soil samples to a certain pF value. First experiments in our Soil Hydro Physics laboratory have been done and give promising results.

Optional work to be done:
• Design and setup an experiment to check if this method is indeed working
• Which pF values can be reached with which salt solutions?
• Evaluate the performance according to the current standards.
• Evaluate which kind of samples can be used for this method.
• Determination of a more suitable method for treating such samples .
• Evaluate if the applicable standards need to be adjusted.
Used skills
Requirements