Download Lab - Soil Sampling

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Lab–MeasuringSoilCondition
Themajoressentialnutrientelementssuppliedtoplantsthroughthesoilarenitrogen,
phosphorus,andpotassium.Soilsamplingisthefirststepinsuccessfulsoilfertility
management.WewillbetestingoursoilsamplesfromAcaciaforpH,nitrogen,
phosphorus,andpotassiumusingsoiltestkits.
SoilPreparation
1. Spreadoutthecompositesampleonacleansheetofpaperorplastic.
2. Allowthesoiltodryseveralhoursorovernight.
3. Removeforeignmattersuchasleaves,twigs,andstones.
4. Gentlycrushsoiltoremovelumps.
5. Siftthesamplethroughascreenorfloursiftertogiveauniformsample.
pH-ThepHscaleisanumericalsystemusedtomeasuretheacidityofalkalinityofasoil.
Plantswillnotthriveisthesoiliseithertooacidortooalkaline,becausethesoilpH
directlyaffectstheavailabilityofmineralnutrients.
1. FindthecolorchartforpH.
2. FollowtheinstructionsforpHTestinLaMotteSoilTestKitGardenGuide.
3. RecordyourpHintheDataTable
AvailablePhosphorus(P)-Youngplantsabsorblargeamountsofphosphorus,which
speedsseedlingdevelopmentandpromotesearlyrootformation.Rapidearlygrowth
meanshardier,strongerplants.Inmatureplants,phosphorusisvitaltothedevelopment
ofhealthyseedsandfruit.Phosphorusgenerallylimitsplantgrowth.Itisdepletedthrough
harvestingofcrops.Leachingdoesnotreallyoccurbecauseitbindseasilytoclayparticles.
Itdoesnotgenerallyrun-offunlessexcessfertilizerisapplied,sometimescausingalgal
blooms.
1. FindthecolorchartforPhosphorus.
2. FollowtheinstructionsforphosphorusTestinLaMotteSoilTestKitGardenGuide.
3. RecordyourphosphoruslevelintheDataTable
AvailableNitrogen(N)-Nitrogenisapartofeverycell.Asacomponentofaminoacids,
thebuildingblocksofprotein,nitrogenisavitallinkintheworld’sfoodsupply.It
stimulatesabove-groundgrowthandproducestherichgreencolorcharacteristicof
healthyplants.Soilnitrogenisdepletedthroughharvestingofcrops,leachingbyrain
waterandirrigation,anddenitrification.
1. FindthecolorchartforNitrogen.
2. FollowtheinstructionsfornitrogenTestinLaMotteSoilTestKitGardenGuide.
3. RecordyournitrogenlevelintheDataTable
AvailablePotassium(K)-Potassiumactsasacatalyst,achemicalagentwhichfacilitatesa
numberofchemicalprocessesintheplant.Potassiumfacilitatesanumberofplant
processes.Itstrengthensnaturalmechanismsfortheresistanceofdiseaseandextremesof
weather.
1. FindthecolorchartforPotassium.
2. FollowtheinstructionsforPotassiumTestinLaMotteSoilTestKitGardenGuide.
3. RecordyourpotassiumlevelintheDataTable
DataCollection
FieldSoil
ForestSoil
pH
P
N
K
Analysis
A. UsingtheGardenGuideManual,page10and14,determinehowmuchofeachtype
ofnutrientneedstobeaddedforidealplantgrowthforpHuseGroupBplantssince
Acaciahasoakandpinetrees.
pH–
N–
P–
K–
B. Areyourresultsdifferentbetweenfieldsoilandforestsoil?Giveanexplanationwhythat
mightbethecase.
C. Ifasamplehadbeentakenfromthe“greens”or“fairway”area,doyouthinktheresults
mighthavebeendifferent?Why?
D. Usingourbookorthefold-overyoumadewiththenitrogennutrientcycle,listthe
processesatworktomakenitrateavailabletoplants.
E. Usingyourbook,identify2otherchemicalpropertiesofsoiland2biologicalproperties
andexplainwhattheyareandwhytheyareimportant.