Calculate the degree of saturation of soil from water and void volumes, or find a molecule’s degree of unsaturation (DBE) from its chemical formula.

Find the percentage of the soil voids occupied by water.

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Degree of Saturation Formula

The following example outlines the information needed to calculate soil saturation. Chemistry modes use DBE = (2C + 2 + N − H − X) / 2, with X = F + Cl + Br + I, assuming neutral closed-shell molecules and conventional valences. Oxygen and divalent sulfur do not affect DBE. The hydrogen-reference ratio is H / (2C + 2 + N − X) × 100, when the denominator is positive; it is not a universal chemical degree of saturation.

DOS = WV / VV × 100

Variables:

  • DOS is the Degree of Saturation (%)
  • WV is the total volume of water in the soil (ft3) 
  • VV is the total volume of voids in the soil (ft3) 

Select Soil saturation, divide water volume by void volume and multiply by 100. Volumes must refer to the same sample; water cannot exceed the pore volume. Select a reverse solve to find water or void volume from a known saturation.

How to Calculate Degree of Saturation?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Degree of Saturation.

  1. First, determine the total volume of water in the soil (ft3). 
  2. Next, determine the total volume of voids in the soil (ft3). 
  3. Next, gather the formula from above = DOS = WV / VV * 100.
  4. Finally, calculate the Degree of Saturation.
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

total volume of water in the soil (ft3) = 50

total volume of voids in the soil (ft3) = 100

DOS = WV / VV * 100 = 50 / 100 × 100 = 50%