This calculator estimates bulk density based on saturation percentage and soil organic matter in California soils. The soil carbon calculator uses total soil carbon percentage, bulk density, and soil sampling depth to calculate total pounds of carbon per acre. Users can input their own value for bulk density if they have an accurate measurement or if they do not have saturation percentage and organic matter values to use in the predictive model. All values are an estimation.
The Bulk Density Calculator uses the following formula: BD = SP^3 + SP^2 + SP + OM
Where: BD = Bulk Density (g/cm³), SP = Saturation Percentage (%), OM = Soil Organic Matter (%).
This calculator is based on the model developed by Sarah E. Light and Veronica Suarez Romero of the University of California in the paper found HERE. The model is a predictive model developed using data from 83 soil samples from sites throughout California. The paper compared 14 models that include various soil measurements including soil texture, saturation percentage, soil organic carbon, and organic matter. This calculator is for the strongest model to predict bulk density.This web tool was developed by Taiyu Guan, Assistant Research Specialist at the University of California Cooperative Extension.
Please contact Sarah E. Light (selight@ucanr.edu) if you have any questions about this calculator.