Remediation

Procedure

1) A cup was filled with the soil and the soil fertility analysis was looked over.
2) The soil had a pH of 7.5, high in nitrogen, medium in potassium and low in phosphorus.
3) Garden Lime, Mushroom Compost, and Miracle Grow were all added to the soil.

Soil Deficiences of original composition/Changes made to the soil

The group added Garden Lime fertilizer to the soil because it is more acidic which means it will bring the pH down. Mushroom compost was added because even though the soil already had organic matter in it it was mostly mulch and it added more nutrients to the soil. Also the compost increase water-holding compacity of the soil so it was only watered every 2-3 days and soil was very silty. To add more pattassium to the soil Miracle Grow was added as well as to make sure the plant will grow bigger.

Results and Correlations Between Tests
Since there were no organisms found in the soil sample the group did not find any correlations with the soil fetility analysis but can infer that the organisms that lived in it survived well in those conditions. The results of the soil fertility test helped determine what ingredients should be added to the soil in order for it to grow crops. Also the soil texture test results related to the soil moisture so the group was able to see a pattern and detemine the type of soil. It is expected that the soil that was remediated will grow the best crops.

Conclusion

Conclusion

      Throughout the Soil Analysis Lab, our group learned several new facts about soil and agriculture. We learned about the different components of soil, and all of the different aspects of planting soil.  Learning about remediating soil was very interesting because there are various factors that can make the plant grow more.  It was fun collaborating with a group throughout the lab.  Other people with do this lab in the future is that the lab is a lot of work, and blogging takes a lot of time and patience. There was not a lot of time in class to do the labs, so future scientists should budget their time wisely. Time management is an important skill that the lab taught my group.  The lab was very interesting, and our group learned something new during each part if the lab.  Knowing how to test soil properly can have major effects on the outcome of agriculture.  All of the group members cooperated together, and divided up the parts of the lab evenly.  

Controlled Experiment

1. The control test produced healthier and more plentiful lettuce.

Control:
- sprouted in 3 days
- medium green leaves. Green throughout the whole plant.
- 16 individual plants
- survival rate: 52.2%

Tested:
- sprouted in 4 days
- light green and white leaves. Pale with green tips
- 8 individual plants
- survival rate 26.6%

2. We did not conduct a taste test because the leaves were to small to eat. The control looks healthier and more tasteful than the experimental lettuce, which looks pale and watered down. The control looks more nutritional as the soil had more nutrients

The soil after the beans were planted. The tested sample is on the left, and the controlled is on the right. 

The controlled soil is on the left, and the tested soil is located on the left. The controlled experiment grew more than the tested soil. 

Collecting The Soil

Collecting the Soil

Procedure

The whole was dug into the earth. A shovel was used to obtain the soil, and place the soil to fill a Ziploc bag halfway. the soil was observed for any biotic or abiotic factors. Observations of the soil were recorded.

Observations of Soil

• There are roots of trees and other plants present in the soil. The roots were removed. 
• The soil does not have any insects inside of it.
• The soil is creates condensation within the bag. There is moisutre in the soil. 
• Pieces of the soil stick together. Certain sizes dominate. 
• The soil has a thick texture. 

                                     This is a picture of the hole that was dug.                                              

Soil Fertility Analysis

Soil Fertility Analysis



Purpose:

Four variables are important in determining how fertile soil is. The variables are pH, Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The goal of the lab was finding the amount of each variable that was present in the soil.

pH Test

By testing the pH of the soil, the sweetness our sourness of the soil can be determined. The pH of the soil sample can tell how how acidic or basic the soil is.  Lower ranges reflect a high acidity level, and higher ranges reflect a higher base level.

Procedure

Materials: Test tubes, caps, a timer, pH indicator, 0.5 g spoon, soil sample

1. pH indicator was poured into the test tube to the 4 mark.
2. A 0.5 gram spoon was used to add three measures of the soil sample.
3. The test tube was capped and mixed gently for one minute.
4. The test tube stood for 10 minutes for the soil sample to settle.
5. The color of the sample was matched to the pH scale.
6. The results were determined.

Observations

• The color of the solution was purple.  
• The color of the sample changed color within the 10 minute time period. 

Phosphorous Test

Materials: All materials were the same as the pH test, except for the addition of a Phosphorus indicator, a pipette, a Phosphorus Test Tablet, a Phosphorus Extract Reactant, and the Phosphorus Color Chart.

Procedure

1.  The test tube was filled to line 6 with Phosphorus Extracting Solution.
2. The 0.5 gram spoon was used to add three measures of soil sample into the test tube.
3. The test tube was capped and mixed gently for one minute.
4. The sample was left to stand for a few moments.
5.  A pipette was used to extract the clear liquid into a second test tube.
6. Six drops of Phosphorus Extract Reactant was added to the solution in the second test tube.
7. The new solution was capped and mixed.
8. One Phosphorus Test Tablet was added to the solution.

9. The solution was capped until the tablet was dissolved. A blue color developed in the test tube.
10. The color of the solution was matched to the Phosphorus Color Chart.

Observations

• Water was clearer in this solution.
• The color changed from purple to blue after the tablet was added. 
• The soil was low in Phosphorus. 

Nitrogen Test

Materials:

• 0.5 gram spoon
• Nitrogen Extracting Solution
• 2 Test Tubes
• Pipettes
• A Timer
• Nitrogen Color Chart
• Caps
• 0.25 gram spoon
• Nitrogen Indicating Powder

Procedure

1. A test tube was filled to the 7 mark with Nitrogen Extracting Solution.

2. A 0.5 g spoon was used to add two soil samples to the solution.

3. The test tube was capped. The solution was mixed for one minute.

4. The cap was removed, and the solution was allowed to settle. 

5. A pipette was used to transfer the clear liquid into a second test tube. 

6. The second test tube was filled to line 3 with liquid. 

7. A 0.25g spoon was used to add two measures of Nitrogen Indicating Powder to the second tube. 

8. The second test tube was capped and mixed gently. The second test tube settled for five minutes, until the solution developed into a pinkish color. 

9. The color of the solution was compared with the Nitrogen Color Chart to determine the amount of Nitrogen in the soil.

Observations

• The color of the Nitrogen solution was the lightest.
• The Nitrogen Indicating Powder made the solution fizz.
• The soil was high in nitrogen.

Potassium Test

Materials

• Potassium Extracting Solution
• 0.5g spoon
• Caps
• Pipettes
• Test tubes
• Potassium Indicator Tablet
• Timer
• Potassium Test Solution

Procedure

1. The test tube was filled to the 7 mark with Potassium Extracting Solution.

2. The 0.5g spoon was used to add four measures of soil to the test tube. 

3. The test tube was capped and mixed vigorously for one minute.

4. The cap was removed, and the solution was let to settle. 

5. A clean pipette was used to transfer the clear liquid into a second test tube to line five. 

6. One Potassium Indicator Tablet was added to the second test tube.

7. The second test tube was capped and mixed until the tablet dissolved.

8. A purplish color appeared inside of the test tube.

9. Two Potassium Test Solution was added added at a time, keeping count. The contents were mixed, and the process of adding and mixing drops was repeated until the solution turned from purple to blue. 

10. The color of the solution was compared to the Potassium level chart, and the level of Potassium was recorded.

Observations

• Soil had a moderate amount of potassium.
• The tablet made the solution turn a purplish color.  

Conclusion

The tests were all useful indicators of the soil's fertility.  The range of the pH was 7.5.  This is a neutral range. Soils with neutral ranges are very fertile, because they are a perfect balance between sour and sweet.  The soil was high in Nitrogen, medium in Potassium, and low in Phosphorous.  The plants in the soil were generally very healthy.  

Berlese Funnel

Procedure:

• The top of a two liter bottle was cut off and placed inside of the remaining bottle to create a funnel leading to the inside of the bottle.
• 20 mL of ethanol was poured at the bottom of the soda bottle.
• A Piece of mesh was cut out and put at the bottom of the funnel.
• Soil was,put into the funnel with 2-3 centimeter left until full.
• The bottle was put under a heat lamp for 4 days.
• The funnel was removed from the lamp and the organisms were counted at the bottom of the bottle.

Observations:

• Almost no soil leaked though the filter.
• As the days went on the soil became dryer and dryer.
• No living things were in the funnel by the last day.
• The higher up you went in the funnel (the closer to the light) the less moist the soil became.

Organisms:

We found two total organisms of different species. The first was a red millipede that was curled up in a ball in the ethanol. This millipede breaks down all the clumps and dead matter in the soil. the decomposed Dead matter into organic material. The second was a small earthworm that was only about 1 inch long. These worms add nutrients to the soil. They eat the soil and decompose it. There feces give out nutrients to the soil, letting plants survive.

Our population was a lot smaller than others. The soil that had more nutrients carried more organisms  while the drier soils did not hold as much. Worms, centipedes, and millipedes were among the most common organisms living in the class soils.

Percent Organic Matter

Procedure:

• The lab partners found the mass of a crucible.
• 3/4 of the crucible was filled with soil.
• The weight was taken again.
• The crucible was put in the fume hood on a clay triangle.
• The Bunsen burner was turned on by the lab partners and the crucible was put over it for 30 min
• The Bunsen burner was taken out and weighed again.

Observations:

• A lot of smoke was put off the crucible, which means a lot of organic material was burned off.
• The crucible was charred around the inside.
• The crucible seemed lighter after the Bunsen burner.
• The soil lost a lost of color after the test and turned white.

The crucible was being charred

Smoke is being burned into the air

% organic matter:

37.76 grams (Before heating) - 32.62 grams (After Heating) = 5.14 grams of organic matter

5.14 Grams of Organic Matter / 37.76 grams of total soil * 100 to make a % = 13.61% organic matter

It is necessary for the soil and the crucible to be measured so the crucible's weight can be subtracted from the overall weight to leave only the soil's weight less. This is a way to increase accuracy when measuring so correct data is collected.

It is very important to have organic materials in soil. 1. Organic matter is a reservoir of nutrients that can be released to the soil. This helps plants grow and survive. 2. Organic matter behaves somewhat like a sponge, with the ability to absorb and hold up to 90 percent of its weight in water. A great advantage of the water-holding capacity of organic matter is that the matter will release most of the water that it absorbs to plants. 3. Organic matter causes soil to clump and form soil aggregates, which improves soil structure. With better soil structure, permeability improves, in result improvs the soil's ability to take up and hold water.