ENV 220 Properties of Soil Lab Report

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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Feb 20, 2024

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Properties of Soil: Agricultural and Water Availability Impacts Lab Report Joshua D. King 02/04/2024

1 Abstract An abstract is generally written after the lab has been completed. In this section, write a one or two-paragraph summary related to the lab activities that were completed. The abstract should include the following elements:  Objective : the main point or central question of the lab  Methods : a brief statement on what was done during the lab  Results : a brief statement on what was found  Discussion : a brief statement of what was concluded  The objective of this lab was to analyze the natural porosity and particle size of two soil samples and then conduct analysis on the chemical composition and profile of both soil samples.  Within this lab, two soil samples were collected to be used in testing porosity, particle size, soil texture, pH, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potash.  What was found during this lab was that the collected soil sample showed good porosity when compared with two control subjects of clay and sand. The two soil samples were then tested for nutrient and pH levels where the first soil sample was lacking in nutrients with a pH of 6. The second collected sample had higher levels of phosphorous and potash but was completely lacking in nitrogen.  In conclusion, the collected soil samples showed signs of needing added nutrients to properly establish good plant growth. Introduction Provide a brief summary paragraph that includes the following elements: © 2016 Carolina Biological Supply Company

2  Background : Why is this topic (and the results of the lab activities) of interest to environmental scientists?  Purpose : How are the techniques performed in this lab used to evaluate environmental conditions?  This topic is important to environmental scientists because the soil horizon and chemical composition has a numerous number of effects on humans and the environment, such as land use for agricultural purposes.  The techniques in this lab are used to evaluate environmental conditions by understanding how suitable the surrounding land of an area may be for agricultural purposes using nutrient testing and porosity. The profile of the soil within the area has a detrimental effect of how sustainable the soil will be. Materials and Methods Describe the experimental procedures in enough detail that someone else could repeat the experiment. Include the following elements:  Materials : Describe the materials and equipment used in the lab  Steps : Briefly explain the steps taken to perform your lab and collect your data, including all safety measures  Calculations : Describe all mathematical equations and statistical tests used  Materials 1. Goggles 2. Gloves 3. Lab apron 4. Stopwatch 5. Camera 6. Bag of Clay, 1/2c 7. Rapitest Soil Test Kit 8. 3 Plastic Tubes © 2016 Carolina Biological Supply Company

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3 9. Bag of Sand, 1/4c 10. 6 Twist ties 11. Cheesecloth 12. 3 Rubber bands 13. Graduated Cylinder, 100 mL 14. Sheet of white paper 15. 2 Collected soil samples 16. Distilled water 17. Tap water 18. Liquid hand soap 19. Scissors 20. 5 Test tubes 21. Test tube rack 22. Permanent marker 23. 2 Pipettes 24. Ruler 25. 3 Plastic cups 26. Graduated Cylinder, 10 mL  Steps A. Activity 1 1. Gather 3 of the test tubes and label them “Sand”, “Clay”, and “Collected Soil”. 2. Fill each test tube halfway with its marked sample. Fill the test tubes with tap water to 1 cm below the rim. 3. While wearing gloves, shake each test tube for 30 seconds. Add one drop of liquid hand soap to each tube. Allow these samples to settle overnight. Cover the tubes with a white sheet of paper to prevent contamination. 4. On Day 2, place the white sheet of paper behind the tubes with the soil samples and observe how settling occurred overnight. 5. Identify the layers in the “Collected Soil” by using the “Sand” and “Clay” tubes as a reference. Notice how the sand settles at the bottom, the silt layer next, and then the clay layer. 6. Using a ruler, measure the depth of the individual layers and record the data in Data Table 1. 7. Measure the total depth of the soil. Do not include the humus layer. 8. Calculate the particle size distribution in the “Collected Soil” sample and record the data in Data Table 1. The percentage © 2016 Carolina Biological Supply Company

4 can be found by dividing the depth of each layer by the total depth and then multiplying by 100. 9. Use a soil analysis chart to determine the soil texture and record the data in Data Table 1. B. Activity 2 1. Gather and prepare the remaining samples for the “Clay”, “Sand”, and “Collected Soil”. 2. Cut two 3 cm squares from the cheesecloth. 3. Secure the cheesecloth over the end of a plastic tube by using a rubber band. 4. Measure and make a mark 4 cm from the end with the cheesecloth. 5. Using one of the three samples, make sure to remove all lumps and rocks. Place the sample in the plastic tube and fill to the 4 cm mark. Use twist ties to suspend the plastic tube in the 100mL graduated cylinder. 6. As you begin to pour 10mL of tap water from the 10mL graduated cylinder into the plastic tube, start a timer. 7. Observe and record the time it takes for a drop of water to emerge from the plastic tube. Record the time in Data Table 2. 8. Repeat the previous steps with the two other samples. C. Activity 3 1. Open the rapitest Soil Test kit. 2. Remove the cap from the green container. 3. Fill the smaller test chamber to the soil line with the “Collected Sample”. 4. While wearing PPE, remove one green capsule, carefully separate the two portions, and pour the contents into the chamber. 5. Use a pipette to add distilled water to the water fill line. 6. Cap and shake the container for 20 seconds. 7. Allow the contents to settle for one minute. 8. Compare the color in the test chamber to the pH color chart and determine the pH of the sample. Record the data in Data Table 3. 9. Discard the used sample. 10. Rinse the container and repeat the above steps with the second “Collected Sample”. D. Activity 4 1. Use a ruler and make a mark 1 cm up from the bottom of a plastic cup with a permanent marker. Measure and make another mark 5 cm up on the same cup. © 2016 Carolina Biological Supply Company

5 2. Place the “Collected Soil” into the cup, filling to the first mark. Fill to the second mark with tap water. 3. Repeat the previous steps with the second “Collected Sample”. 4. While wearing gloves, cover and shake the cup with the samples thoroughly for one minute. Allow the samples to settle for 24 hours. 5. 24 hours later, remove the caps from the purple, blue, and orange containers. 6. Use a pipette and fill the test chamber and the reference chamber up to the fill lines with the supernatant from one of the cups. 7. While wearing PPE, remove one of each type of capsule with the corresponding container color. Hold the capsule over the correct test chamber and pour the powder into the test chamber. 8. Cap the containers and shake until thoroughly mixed. 9. Wait 10 minutes for the color to develop. Shake again if the solution is settled on the bottom. 10. Compare the color in the container to the color chart and determine the nutrient content. Record the data in Data Table 4. 11. Rinse the containers and repeat the above steps for the other “Collected Soil” sample. 12. Dispose and clean-up of all messes. Results Activity 1 Data Table 1 Dept h of Clay Layer (cm) Dept h of Silt Layer (cm) Depth of Sand Layer (cm) Total Dept h (cm) % Clay % Silt % San d Soil Type Collected Soil Sample 3.5 2 2 7.5 47 27 27 Clay © 2016 Carolina Biological Supply Company

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7 Activity 3 Data Table 3 Collected Soil Sample Other Soil Sample (Location Description: _______________________) pH 6 6.5 Activity 4 Data Table 4 Nitrogen Phosphor us Potash Collected Soil Sample N0 P2 K2 Other Soil Sample N1 P1 K1 Conclusion Explain your results and the significance of those results. Include the following elements:  Summarize important observations and findings  For each activity, describe the patterns or relationships you observed  Explain any agreements, contradictions or exceptions  Explain the broader implications of your findings (big picture)  The first collected soil sample consists of a clay texture with good porosity. The pH of this sample ranged around 6, which means it is slightly acidic. Upon conducting nutrient level testing, the soil was found to contain no nitrogen but had good levels of phosphorous and potash. © 2016 Carolina Biological Supply Company

8  The second collected soil sample was not tested for texture or porosity. A 6.5 pH level was recorded for the second sample. The second sample had trace amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potash.  The findings of these tests determined that the area where the first collected soil sample originated needs to be treated for pH and nitrogen, to help sustain a healthier grow cycle for the vegetation located within. References Carolina Distance Learning. (2018). Properties of Soil: Agricultural and Water Availability Impacts. www.carolina.com/distancelearning. Post Lab Questions 1. What are some possible factors that may have influenced the difference in pH and nutrient readings between the two soil samples in Activities 3 and 4? One possible factor that could have altered the pH difference between the two soil samples is rain. The first sample was collected from outdoors that receives different weather patterns. The second sample was collected from a bag of potting soil which has not had any rainfall. Another factor that could have altered the pH levels between the soil samples is the nutrient levels that are contained within the soils. © 2016 Carolina Biological Supply Company

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9 2. When it comes to growing crops as a farmer, what type of soil do you believe would be the most fertile (consider structure, texture, permeability, and porosity when arriving at your answer)? For agricultural purposes, a soil that has a structure of rounded, granular peds would be ideal for the best permeability. The texture would consist of a loamy soil, containing more silt and clay with a small mix of sand. 3. Soil structure defines how the individual particles in the soil aggregate and the structure affects how easily air, water, and the roots of plants can move within the soil. The arrangement of soil particles can be broken down into peds, or secondary units of the primary soil particles. a. Which type of peds often occurs in areas that are frequently flooded? b. Which type of peds are particularly suitable for plant growth? Explain your answers. Soils that are found in frequently flooded areas usually consist of platy soils. These soils contain a large amount of clay and can tightly pack together, which impedes the flow of water. The type of peds that are suitable for plant growth are blocky and granular. These consist of loamy soils that contain clay, silt, and sand. The aggregates in these mixtures allow air, water, and roots to easily penetrate through the ground. 4. You have two identically sloped hills, each having a drainage ditch at the bottom. One hill consists of relatively sandy soil, while the soil of the other hill has a high clay content. Which drainage ditch would be more likely to flood after heavy rain? Explain your answer. © 2016 Carolina Biological Supply Company

10 The drainage ditch that contains the high clay content would be more likely to flood because the aggregate of the clay is tightly condensed, which does not allow water to easily travel through. The porosity of the sandy soil would allow water to penetrate easier and drain due to the larger aggregate size. 5. Define decomposition and explain its importance to soil health. Decomposition is the process of organic material breaking down due to natural processes. Decomposition is important to soil health because as organisms break down these organic materials, nutrients are released and replenish the soil with higher levels. © 2016 Carolina Biological Supply Company