ENV 220 Properties of Soil Lab Report
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Southern New Hampshire University *
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220
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Geography
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Properties of Soil: Agricultural and Water
Availability
Impacts Lab Report
9/24/2023
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 get a better understanding of the properties
of soil. For this lab, three soil samples were used to determine porosity,
particle size, pH level, and makeup of different types of soil. It was found that
sandy soils have much more porosity but do not contain many nutrients. Clay
soil is much less porous than sandy soil. The collected sample was found to
be loamy sand and had a pH level that was basic and did not contain many
nutrients.
Introduction
Provide a brief summary paragraph that includes the following elements:
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?
Soil properties are vital for determining land use and are necessary for
agriculture. By looking at the properties of soil we can determine water
availability for any given area. We care about looking at these properties
because we can use them to determine if an area is viable for human
activities or not. Texture, particle size, and shape play major roles in
determining the ability of an area to retain water and air which are necessary
for multiple agricultural systems which are vital to human life. We use the
technique of recording these properties for three different types of soil to
learn more about the differences between sandy soil, clay soil, and the
collected soil.
There are five different horizons of soil. The upper-most horizon is called the
O-horizon and is the most nutrient rich horizon of soil. Below the O-horizon is
the A-horizon. This horizon is commonly referred to as “topsoil” and contains
organic matter and minerals. Going further down, there is the B-horizon
which is commonly referred to as the “subsoil”. Most of the soil here has
gone through at least one form of weathering. The second to last horizon is
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2
called the C-horizon and is mostly composed of weathered rock fragments
and material from the above horizons. The final horizon is called the R-
horizon, although it is sometimes referred to as the D-horizon, and mostly
contains untouched bedrock material.
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
Bag of clay
rapidest® Soil Test Kit
3 Plastic tubes
Bag of sand
6 Twist ties Cheesecloth
3 Rubber Bands
Graduated Cylinder, 100 mL
Sheet of White Paper
Liquid Hand Soap
2 Soil Samples
Scissors
Distilled Water
Tap Water
Timer or Stopwatch
To complete this lab, you will need three test tubes, one with sand, one with
clay, and one with your collected soil sample. Fill each test tube with tap
water until it reaches 1cm below the top. Place your thumb over the test
tube and shake for approximately 30 seconds. Add one drop of hand soap
to each test tube and allow to settle overnight.
After giving the samples time to settle overnight, place a sheet of white
paper behind the tubes and observe the settled layers. You will use the
sand and clay samples as controls and use your collected sample to
identify the layers. Use a ruler to determine the depth of the sand, silt,
and clay layers. Then divide each layer depth by the total depth of soil
and multiply by 100 to determine the soil texture.
To determine the porosity of each soil type, cut two 3-cm squares from the
cheesecloth. Put the cheesecloth pieces on the bottom of the test tube
and secure it with a rubber band. Pour 10 mL of tap water into the tube
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3
and record the number of seconds it takes for the first drop of water to be
released from the soil.
To determine the pH level of each soil type, open the rapitest soil kit and fill
the test chamber with your collected soil sample. While wearing
protective equipment, open one of the green capsules from its packaging
and separate the two halves to dump the powder over your sample. Use a
pipette to fill the water line with distilled water. Tightly cap the container
and shake for approximately 20 seconds before allowing the soil to settle
for 1 minute. Compare the color of your sample to the pH level chart and
record your findings.
To find the Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potash levels in each sample, use a
ruler to measure 1 cm up from the bottom of a plastic cup then repeat
with 5cm’s. Fill the cup to the first mark with your collected soil sample
and fill to the second mark with tap water. With a gloved hand, cover the
top of the plastic cup and shake for approximately 1 minute. Allow it to
settle for 24 hours. After settling, remove the caps and use a pipette to fill
the test and reference chambers with the water from above the soil. While
wearing protective equipment, open the green capsule for its packaging
and separate the two halves to dump the powder over your sample. Allow
the color to develop for 10 minutes and compare the color of your sample
to the color chart to determine the level of each nutrient in each soil
sample.
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
1
3.4
5.6
10
10%
34
%
56%
Sandy
Loam
Activity 2
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4
Data Table 2
Time taken for
first drop to
emerge from
column (s)
Sand
6.4 seconds
Clay
44.2 seconds
Collected Soil
Sample
22.6 seconds
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5
Activity 3
Data Table 3
Collected Soil
Sample
Other Soil Sample
(Location Description:
_______________________)
pH
7.5
6
Activity 4
Data Table 4
Nitrogen
Phosphor
us
Potash
Collected Soil
Sample
N0
P2
K0
Other Soil Sample
N0
P2
K0
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 significance of this experiment is that it allows the scientist to
develop a higher understanding of the properties of soil. The soil
sample that was collected had a high percentage of sand with a
slightly smaller percentage of silt and a small percentage of clay. There
was a much larger level of porosity in the sand soil sample, which only
took 6.4 seconds, than there was in the collected sample, which took
22.6 seconds, and the clay sample, which took 44.2 seconds. The pH of
the collected sample was basic with a level of 7.5 while the other
sample was acidic with a level of 6. There was a low number of
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recorded nutrients in the collected soil sample. This is significant
because it relates back to the composition of the sample which is
mostly sand. Sand does not have many nutrients in it and therefore,
the collected sample having a low number of nutrients makes sense
and allows me to draw conclusions about the capability of sand to hold
nutrients.
References
Include all references in this section (APA format)
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?
A factor that may have influenced the difference in pH and nutrient readings
between the two samples is the location of where they were collected.
Different areas have different pH levels and abilities to hold nutrients
depending on where the sample was collected.
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)?
I believe the most fertile type of soil for a farmer would be silt. Silt can
hold water because it is not highly porous. This also allows silt to be able
to hold nutrients, which is vital for farming.
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.
a.
Areas that contain large amounts of clay able to be frequently flooded
because of the low porosity level in clay.
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b.
Silt is suitable for plant growth because it is able to hold the water and
nutrients that plants need to grow.
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.
The drainage ditch with the high clay content would be more likely to
flood than the sandy soil drainage ditch. This is because the clay has a
very low porosity level and would allow for the water to build up and
eventually flood.
5.
Define decomposition and explain its importance to soil health.
Decomposition is the breakdown of organic matter that is produced by
plants and animals at the surface. It is essential for determining the
health of soil and allows for organisms in the deeper horizons to survive.
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