What are your objectives with this size of pot? M. Tollenaar is an author or co-author of several papers in which a 22 L pail is used to grow maize plants in a baked clay, soil-free medium. The objectives of Tollenaar and many colleagues was to be able to harvest maize roots. There were limitations, but this system has been used for decades.
The volume of the soil required for successful establishment and completion of experiment depends on type of crop chosen and the depth to which the experimental plants put forth roots and period of experiment. In 40 cm high pots, soil filled upto 30 cm is good enough to conduct 3- 6 month study with cereal crops. If the plant under study is a biennial or perennial crop, suitable pots with required volume of soil is preferred.