Introduction
The purpose of this lab is to analyze the soil for texture, color and moisture in two different areas at the USF botanical gardens, a wetland versus an upland. Wetland soils differ from other soils because they are formed under very wet conditions and have little to no oxygen, making it anaerobic (Wetland, 2021). The absence of oxygen results in different characteristics, such as soil color and texture. The chemical reactions that occur in an anaerobic soil differ from what happens in an aerobic soil, which is why there is a difference in color. There are different types of wetland soil, mineral wetland soils, which are a mix of sand, silt and
clay with humus and dead plant matter. Organic wetland soils such as peats and mucks which are accumulated dead wet plant material.
Methodology
In the lab performed, there were two different locations, the wetland verses the dryland. To perform the experiment there was dirt taken at different depths, and the following characteristics were performed/ observed horizon, texture, color, moisture and pH and were recorded.
Results:
Wetland Site
Sample Depth
Horizon
Texture
Color
(hue, value, chroma)
Moisture
pH
0 cm
O
sandy
5 R 2.5/1
moist
8.1
15 cm
A
sandy silt
7.5 YR 2.5/1
moist
6.7
