IS : 2720 (Part XXI) - 1977

(Reaffirmed 2003))
( Reaffirmed 2006
Edition 2.1
(1983-11)
Indian Standard
METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS
PART XXI DETERMINATION OF TOTAL
SOLUBLE SOLIDS

( First Revision )
(Incorporating Amendment No. 1)

UDC 624.131.41 : 543.83

© BIS 2005

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN , 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002

Price Group 2
 IS : 2720 (Part XXI) - 1977

Indian Standard
METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS
PART XXI DETERMINATION OF TOTAL
SOLUBLE SOLIDS
( First Revision )
Soil Engineering Sectional Committee, BDC 23
Chairman Representing
PROF DINESH MOHAN Central Building Research Institute (CSIR), Roorkee
Members
ADDITIONAL CHIEF ENGINEER Public Works Department, Government of
Uttar Pradesh
SHRI D. C. CHATURVEDI ( Alternate )
ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR RESEARCH Railway Board (Ministry of Railways)
(RDSO)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR RESEARCH
(RDSO) ( Alternate )
PROF ALAM SINGH University of Jodhpur, Jodhpur
LT-COL AVTAR SINGH Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch, Army Headquarters
MAJ V. K. KANITKAR ( Alternate )
DR A. BANERJEE Cementation Co Ltd, Calcutta
SHRI S. GUPTA ( Alternate )
CHIEF ENGINEER (D & R) Irrigation Department, Government of Punjab
DIRECTOR (IPRI) ( Alternate )
SHRI K. N. DADINA In personal capacity ( P-820, ‘P’ New Alipore,
Calcutta 700053 )
SHRI A. G. DASTIDAR In personal capacity ( 5, Hungerford Street, 12/1,
Hungerford Court, Calcutta 700017 )
SHRI R. L. DEWAN Irrigation Research Institute, Khagaul, Patna
DR G. S. DHILLON Indian Geotechnical Society, New Delhi
SHRI A. H. DIVANJI Asia Foundations & Construction (P) Ltd, Bombay
SHRI A. N. JANGLE ( Alternate )
DR SHASHI K. GULHATI Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
DR G. V. RAO ( Alternate )
SHRI V. G. HEGDE National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SHRI S. H. BALCHANDANI ( Alternate )
SHRI O. P. MALHOTRA Public Works Department, Government of Punjab
SHRI J. S. MARYA Roads Wing (Ministry of Shipping & Transport),
New Delhi
SHRI N. SEN ( Alternate )
( Continued on page 2 )

© BIS 2005
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
This publication is protected under the Indian Copyright Act (XIV of 1957) and
reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the
publisher shall be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act.
IS : 2720 (Part XXI) - 1977
( Continued from page 1 )*
Members Representing
SHRI R. S. MELKOTE Central Water Commission, New Delhi
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (CSMRS) ( Alternate )
SHRI T. K. NATARAJAN Central Road Research Institute (CSIR), New Delhi
REPRESENTIVE Hindustan Construction Co Ltd, Bombay
RESEARCH OFFICER Building & Roads Research Laboratory, Chandigarh
SHRI K. R. SAXENA Engineering Research Laboratories, Hyderabad
SECRETARY Central Board of Irrigation & Power, New Delhi
DEPUTY SECRETARY ( Alternate )
*DR SHAMSHER PRAKASH University of Roorkee, Roorkee
DR GOPAL RANJAN ( Alternate )
SHRI H. D. SHARMA Irrigation Research Institute, Roorkee
SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER Public Works Department, Government of
Tamil Nadu
EXECUTIVE ENGINEER ( Alternate )
SHRI B. T. UNWALLA Concrete Association of India, Bombay
SHRI T. M. MENON ( Alternate )
SHRI H. C. VERMA All India Instruments Manufacturers & Dealers
Association, Bombay
SHRI V. K. VASUDEVAN ( Alternate )
SHRI D. AJITHA SIMHA, Director General, ISI ( Ex-officio Member )
Director (Civ Engg)
Secretary
SHRI G. RAMAN
Deputy Director (Civ Engg), ISI
Soil Testing Procedures and Equipment Subcommittee, BDC 23 : 3
Convener
PROF ALAM SINGH University of Jodhpur, Jodhpur
Members
SHRI AMAR SINGH Central Building Research Institute (CSIR), Roorkee
LT-COL AVTAR SINGH Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch, Army Headquarters
MAJ V. K. KANITKAR ( Alternate )
D E P U T Y DIRECTOR RESEARCH Railway Board (Ministry of Railways)
(SOIL MECHANICS-I) (RDSO)
A S S I S T A N T DIRECTOR
R E S E A R C H (S O I L
MECHANICS-I) (RDSO) ( Alternate )
SHRI R. L. DEWAN Irrigation Research Institute, Khagaul, Patna
DIRECTOR (I & C) Beas Dams Projects, Talwara Township
SHRI K. S. PREM ( Alternate )
SHRI H. K. GUHA Geologist Syndicate Pvt Ltd, Calcutta
SHRI N. N. BHATTACHARAYA ( Alternate )
( Continued on page 8 )

*Also represents Institution of Engineers (India), Delhi Centre.

2
 IS : 2720 (Part XXI) - 1977

Indian Standard
METHODS OF TEST FOR SOILS
PART XXI DETERMINATION OF TOTAL
SOLUBLE SOLIDS

( First Revision )
0. F O R E W O R D
0.1 This Indian Standard (Part XXI) (First Revision) was adopted by
the Indian Standards Institution on 30 December 1977, after the draft
finalized by the Soil Engineering Sectional Committee had been
approved by the Civil Engineering Division Council.
0.2 With a view to establish uniform procedures for the determination
of different characteristics of soils and also for facilitating comparative
studies of the results, the Indian Standards Institution is bringing out
this Indian Standard Methods of test for soils (IS : 2720) which is
being published in parts. Forty one parts of this standard have been
published. This part [IS : 2720 (Part XXI)-1977] deals with the method
of test for the determination of total soluble solids in soils. The
presence of soluble solids in a soil is one of the important aspects
requiring examination since these water soluble solids greatly
influence the engineering properties of the soil. Two methods for the
determination of soluble solids are given. The first method, the
gravimetric method (designated as the standard method), gives the
percentage of soluble solids accurately in absolute terms. The second
method, the conductimetric method (designated as the subsidiary
method) may be used for rapid assessment.
0.2.1 This standard was first published in 1965. In this revision, the
conductimetric method has been simplified by specifying the use of a
conductivity meter or bridge.
0.3 In the formulation of this standard due weightage has been given
to international co-ordination among the standards and practices
prevailing in different countries in addition to relating it to the
practices in this field in this country. This has been met by deriving
assistance from the following publication:
INDIA. MINISTRY OF IRRIGATION AND POWER. CBIP. Publication
No. 42 Standards for testing soils, 1963. Central Board of
Irrigation and Power, New Delhi.

3
IS : 2720 (Part XXI) - 1977
0.4 This edition 2.1 incorporates Amendment No. 1 (November 1983).
Side bar indicates modification of the text as the result of
incorporation of the amendment.
0.5 In reporting the result of a test or analysis made in accordance
with this standard, if the final value, observed or calculated, is to be
rounded off, it shall be done in accordance with IS : 2-1960*.
1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard (Part XXI) lays down the determination of total
soluble solids content in soil both by gravimetric method which has
been specified as the standard method and conductimetric method
which has been specified as a subsidiary method.
2. GRAVIMETRIC METHOD (STANDARD METHOD)
2.1 Apparatus
2.1.1 Bottle Shaker
2.1.2 Oven — Thermostatically controlled oven to maintain the
temperature between 105ºC and 110ºC, with interior of non-corroding
material.
2.1.3 Chemical Balance — sensitive to 0.001 g.
2.1.4 Buchner or Glass Funnel — about 10 cm diameter.
2.1.5 Glazed Porcelain Dish or Glass Dish
2.1.6 Filtering Flask — capacity 500 ml.
2.1.7 Glass Bottle — capacity 250 ml, with rubber bang.
2.1.8 Measuring Cylinder — capacity 100 ml.
2.1.9 Pipette — 50 ml and 100 ml.
2.1.10 Vacuum Pump
2.1.11 Desiccator — with any desiccating agent other than sulphuric
acid.
2.1.12 Thermometer
2.1.13 Water Bath
2.1.14 Filter Candle
2.1.15 Filter Paper — Whatman No. 42 or its equivalent.
*Rules for rounding off numerical values ( revised ).

4
 IS : 2720 (Part XXI) - 1977
2.2 Procedure
2.2.1 A representative sample passing a 2-mm IS Sieve from the air
dried sample prepared in accordance with IS : 2720 (Part I)-1972*
shall be dried to constant weight in an oven at a temperature of 105 to
110ºC. Out of this, about 10 g of soil shall be accurately weighed and
transferred to a 250-ml glass bottle. 100-ml of distilled water shall be
added to it; the bottle shall then be stoppered and fitted in the shaker
and shaken over-night (at least 15 h). The soil shall then be allowed to
settle and the clear portion decanted off and filtered through Whatman
No. 42 filter paper or equivalent. If by simple filtration the filtrate is
not clear, the operation shall be repeated employing a filter candle
with a vacuum pump.
2.2.2 Take 50-ml of the clear filtrate in a pre-weighed porcelain dish,
or glass dish and concentrate by evaporating in the water both before
finally drying in the oven at 110ºC. The dish shall then be cooled to
room temperature in a desiccator and weighed to get the weight of the
residue. The percentage of total soluble solids in the soil shall then be
calculated on the basis of the soil taken for analysis.
NOTE — In case the value of the solubility is more than 2 percent, the test be
repeated with 50-ml of distilled water.
2.3 Report
2.3.1 The results shall be reported to the nearest 0.01 percent as a per-
centage by weight of oven-dry soil.
2.3.2 The observations of the test shall be suitably recorded. A recom-
mended proforma for the record is as given in Appendix A.
3. CONDUCTIMETRIC METHOD (SUBSIDIARY METHOD)
3.1 Apparatus
3.1.1 Conductivity Meter/Bridge with Known Cell Constant
( Unbreakable ) — The instrument is designed to carry out the
measurement of specific conductance and specific resistance of various
electrolytes and also measurement of ohmic resistance with measuring
accuracy of ± 3 percent in 7 or 8 ranges varying from at least 1 mhos to
10 mhos.
3.1.2 Physical Balance — sensitivity 0.01 g.
3.1.3 Measuring Cylinder — capacity 50-ml.
3.1.4 Beaker — 150-ml.
3.1.5 Glass Rod or Stirrer

*Methods of test for soilds: Part I Preparation of dry soil samples for various tests
( first revision ).
5
IS : 2720 (Part XXI) - 1977
3.2 Procedure — Take 10 g of oven-dry soil sample as mentioned in
2.2. Distilled water shall be added to it and stirred intermittently with
a glass rod or by any stirring machine. The soil suspension thus
prepared shall be allowed to settle in the beaker for about 30 minutes.
The supernatant liquid shall be transferred into another beaker and
specific conductivity determined using the conductivity meter/bridge.
NOTE — The equipment before using, shall be checked with a saturated calcium
sulphate solution which shall give specific conductivity of 2.2 mhos/cm at 25ºC. If not,
the conductivity cell is to be cleaned.
3.3.Report
3.3.1 The results shall be reported in millimhos/cm.
3.3.2 The results obtained by conductivity meter/bridge may be inter-
pretted as indicated below:

Conductivity meter/bridge readings Total soluble solid content

Below 1 millimho/cm Normal
1 to 2 millimhos/cm Fairly good
2 to 3 millimhos/cm High
Above 3 millimhos Very high

6
 IS : 2720 (Part XXI) - 1977

APPENDIX A
( Clause 2.3.2 )

PROFORMA FOR RECORDING

Project ........... Details of Sample.........

1. Sample number

2. Mass of oven-dry soil taken ( w ), in g

3. Volume of clear filtrate taken, in ml 50 50 50

4. Procelain dish or glass dish number, in g

5. Mass of dish with residue after oven drying, in g

6. Mass of dish, in g

7. Mass of residue ( w1 ), in g

2 w
8. Percentage of soluble solids -------------1 × 100
w

7
IS : 2720 (Part XXI) - 1977
( Continued from page 2 )

Members Representing
DR SHASHI K. GULHATI Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
SHRI R. K. JAIN United Technical Consultants (P) Ltd, New Delhi
DR P. K. DE ( Alternate )
SHRI O. P. MALHOTRA Building & Roads Research Laboratory, Chandigarh
RESEARCH OFFICER (BLDG &
ROADS) ( Alternate )
SHRI R. S. MELKOTE Central Water Commission, New Delhi
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (CSMRS)
( Alternate )
SHRI P. JAGANNATHA RAO Central Road Research Institute (CSIR), New Delhi
SHRI V. V. S. RAO In personal capacity ( F-24, Green Park, New Delhi )
SHRI N. SEN Ministry of Shipping & Transport (Roads Wing),
New Delhi
SHRI P. K. THOMAS ( Alternate )
SHRI M. M. D. SETH Public Works Department, Government of Uttar
Pradesh
DR B. L. DHAWAN ( Alternate )
SHRI H. C. VERMA Associated Instruments Manufacturers (I) Pvt Ltd,
New Delhi

8
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Amendments Issued Since Publication

Amend No. Date of Issue
Amd. No. 1 November 1983

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