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Development and Calibration of an Irregular Hole Bulk Density Sampler¹

ABSTRACT

Existing methods for measuring soil density and rock fragment content are often imprecise or difficult to use on steep slopes and in skeletal soils. A portable device was developed for measuring these physical properties using an irregular hole technique. The method employs a direct volume measurement using lightweight 3- to 6-mm diameter epoxy spheres. A sample volume of 1.5 x 10^–2 m³ can be measured and rock fragments up to 85 mm in diameter can be sampled. The combination of direct volume measurement and surface calibration before measurement allows determination of sample volume to 1% accuracy. Measurements made with the new device compare well with sand cone and core sample measurements under conditions considered favorable for all methods. The device is particularly useful on steep slopes and where rock fragment contents greater than 15% limit the standard methods.

¹ Oregon Agric. Exp. Stn. Technical paper no. 6789. Contribution of the Dep. of Forest Engineering and the Dep. of Soil Science, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, Oreg. This work was supported as part of the Forestry Intensified Research Program (PNW-80-85), a cooperative project of Oregon State University, the USDA Forest Service, and the USDI Bureau of Land Management.

² Graduate Research Assistant and Assistant Professor, respectively, Dep. of Soil Science, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR 97331.

Received for publication May 9, 1983. Accepted for publication October 2, 1983.