How to use the soil bulk density calculator
Compute bulk density and porosity of soil. Enter dry soil mass, core volume, particle density in the fields above; the bulk density, porosity are computed instantly and plotted on the chart so you can see how the answer changes.
Formula
Variables
- m — Dry soil mass (g)
- V — Core volume (cm³)
- pd — Particle density (g/cm³)
Worked example
With dry soil mass = 180 g, core volume = 120 cm³, particle density = 2.65 g/cm³, the calculator gives bulk density ≈ 1.5 g/cm³; porosity ≈ 43.39623 %.
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for the soil bulk density calculation?
Bulk density (g/cm³) = m / V. Porosity (%) = 100 × (1-[Bulk density] / pd). Here m is dry soil mass (g), V is core volume (cm³), pd is particle density (g/cm³).
What inputs do I need for the soil bulk density calculator?
You need dry soil mass in g, core volume in cm³, particle density in g/cm³. Each field is pre-filled with a typical example so you can see how the result responds as you edit the numbers.
How do I use this calculator?
Type values into the input fields. Results and the chart update instantly. Use Reset to restore the example values, Copy results to paste them elsewhere, or Share to copy a link that preserves your inputs.
Is the result exact?
Calculations use standard formulas and double-precision arithmetic, then display about seven significant figures. Real-world measurements carry uncertainty, so treat results as estimates unless your inputs are exact.