Bulk density is a material property that is defined as the mass of the many particles of the material divided by the bulk volume. Bulk density is usually expressed in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3), kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3), or grams per 100 milliliters (g/100 ml) . Bulk density is an extrinsic property of a material, meaning that it can change depending on how the material is handled. Bulk density is useful for materials such as powders, granules, and other "divided" solids, especially used in reference to mineral components (soil, gravel), chemical substances, pharmaceutical ingredients, foodstuff, or any other masses of corpuscular or particulate matter (particles) .
In the context of soil science, bulk density is the weight of dry soil divided by the total soil volume. Bulk density measurements can be done to determine if soil is compacted or as part of fertiliser or irrigation management plans. Bulk density is important in agriculture and construction for different purposes. For construction, denser soil is important to lay foundations, so bulk density must be high and compaction is used to achieve lesser volume and higher bulk density. In agriculture, less dense soil is favorable because it helps planting. To accomplish this, the soil is plowed, increasing volume and therefore lowering bulk density.
