Part I: Soil Texture
Calculate and record the percent sand, silt, and clay in the soil sample.
97% sand. 3% Silt, 0% clay
Use the soil textural triangle to determine the texture of the soil sample.
Sand
Part II: Soil pH
Procedure -
Weigh out 20g of soil in a 100-ml beaker.
Add 40 mL of distilled water and stir for 30 seconds every 3 minutes for 15 minutes.
After the final stir of the soil mixture, remove the fork, and allow the mixture to settle for 5 minutes.
Carefully, measure and record pH of the liquid phase of the soil-water mixture using the pH test
Postlab Questions:
1. Use the soil triangle to determine the type of soils with the following particle sizes
a. 20% silt, 10% clay, 70% sand
Sand Loam
b. 30% sand, 10% clay, 60% silt
Silt Loam
c. 10% silt, 50% sand, 40% clay
Sandy Clay
d. 30% clay, 30% sand, 40% silt
Clay Loam
e. 60% clay, 10% sand, 30% silt
Clay
f. 40% sand, 10% silt, 50% clay
Clay
2. List and describe three ways in which soil pH affects an ecosystem.
Reduction of bacteria means a loss of decomposition and nutrient release
pH determines plant growth
Plants that can survive in low pH could dominate the land around them
3. What types of vegetation does soil of the type and pH you sampled best support?
Our soil type was sand meaning that our best pH would be 6.5
4. What would be the ideal type and pH of soil to have around a home?
The type of soil is sand being at an average pH of 6.0-7.5
5. What would be the ideal type and pH of soil for agriculture?
6.5-7.5
6. How do farmers adjust the pH of soils?
Farmers use limestone to neutralize acidic soil and sulfur to neutralize a basic soil.
Part III: Classification of Soil Texture by Hand
a: Using the method described above, try to classify your soil as mostly sand, mostly silt or mostly clay. How did you classify your soil based on this “by hand” method? What lead you to this conclusion?
Our sand mainly consisted of sand because due to the hand method, our dirt felt really smooth but brittle leading us to conclude our dirt was sand.
b: Now use the dichotomous key to classify your soil. What soil texture would you classify your sample based on this method?
We were able to show our dirt was sand based on this method.
c: Do it again with the flow diagram- how would you classify your soil now?
The classification was still sand.
d: Did your answers to all of the methods agree with each other? Why or why not?
The hand method, dichotomous key and the flow diagram each concluded that the soil type in my backyard was indeed sand.
Calculate and record the percent sand, silt, and clay in the soil sample.
97% sand. 3% Silt, 0% clay
Use the soil textural triangle to determine the texture of the soil sample.
Sand
Part II: Soil pH
Procedure -
Weigh out 20g of soil in a 100-ml beaker.
Add 40 mL of distilled water and stir for 30 seconds every 3 minutes for 15 minutes.
After the final stir of the soil mixture, remove the fork, and allow the mixture to settle for 5 minutes.
Carefully, measure and record pH of the liquid phase of the soil-water mixture using the pH test
Postlab Questions:
1. Use the soil triangle to determine the type of soils with the following particle sizes
a. 20% silt, 10% clay, 70% sand
Sand Loam
b. 30% sand, 10% clay, 60% silt
Silt Loam
c. 10% silt, 50% sand, 40% clay
Sandy Clay
d. 30% clay, 30% sand, 40% silt
Clay Loam
e. 60% clay, 10% sand, 30% silt
Clay
f. 40% sand, 10% silt, 50% clay
Clay
2. List and describe three ways in which soil pH affects an ecosystem.
Reduction of bacteria means a loss of decomposition and nutrient release
pH determines plant growth
Plants that can survive in low pH could dominate the land around them
3. What types of vegetation does soil of the type and pH you sampled best support?
Our soil type was sand meaning that our best pH would be 6.5
4. What would be the ideal type and pH of soil to have around a home?
The type of soil is sand being at an average pH of 6.0-7.5
5. What would be the ideal type and pH of soil for agriculture?
6.5-7.5
6. How do farmers adjust the pH of soils?
Farmers use limestone to neutralize acidic soil and sulfur to neutralize a basic soil.
Part III: Classification of Soil Texture by Hand
a: Using the method described above, try to classify your soil as mostly sand, mostly silt or mostly clay. How did you classify your soil based on this “by hand” method? What lead you to this conclusion?
Our sand mainly consisted of sand because due to the hand method, our dirt felt really smooth but brittle leading us to conclude our dirt was sand.
b: Now use the dichotomous key to classify your soil. What soil texture would you classify your sample based on this method?
We were able to show our dirt was sand based on this method.
c: Do it again with the flow diagram- how would you classify your soil now?
The classification was still sand.
d: Did your answers to all of the methods agree with each other? Why or why not?
The hand method, dichotomous key and the flow diagram each concluded that the soil type in my backyard was indeed sand.