Download Studying Soil Scientifically Study Guide

Name ___________________________________
Period____
Soil Test Date Friday, September 11th
Studying Soil Scientifically Study Guide KEY
1. What is the difference between an opinion and an observation? An opinion is based upon what a
person thinks, an observation is a description based on the person’s 5 senses.
Circle the key words that would help describe a scientific observation:
Think
Measured
Saw
Felt
Dreamed
Heard
Believed
Thought
Counted
Smelled
2. What characteristics/observations are used to describe soil? it’s color and texture (how it feels)
3. Identify the four layers of the soil profile below. Identify the alternative name for each layer and list 3
facts about each layer. (Facts may vary)
Horizon A/Topsoil: combination of weathered rock, organic matter, air & water.
Usually rich with humus. Thickness may vary based on location. Composition of
topsoil may vary based on location. Find litter in this layer. Animals and insects are
found here and help to create healthy soil.
Horizon B/Subsoil: contains some nutrients caused by leaching. Usually lighter in
color than the topsoil. Less fertile than the topsoil layer.
Horizon C/Parent Material: lower layer of the soil profile. Often the thickest layer.
Contains coarse sediment. Where weathering of the bedrock occurs. Rocks found
here are most like the bedrock in composition.
Horizon R/Bedrock: Solid rock layer. Part of the earth’s crust
4. Explain how the leaching process transports minerals. Draw an illustration to help with your
explanation. Leaching occurs when water from rain dissolves the nutrients found in the A
horizon and transports/carries them down to the B Horizon. (Pictures may vary)
5. Nutrients are important for healthy soil and for plant growth. Explain how soil gets nutrients. When
organic matter (plants and animals) decays it breaks down into its smallest components. The
organic matter mixes with weathered rock and nutrients found in the decayed plants and
animals are added to the soil.
6. What is weathering the breaking down of rock by natural forces such as wind and water.
7. Weathered rock is broken down into 3 different particle or sediments based upon its size. What are the
three particles that weathered rock breaks down into? Identify the particles, order these particles in
order from smallest to largest and briefly describe each particle. (Hint: use word like gritty, sticky,
smooth, etc.) Smallest/Clay-> Medium/Silt -> Largest/Sand. Clay is sticky when wet and can only
be seen through the use of a microscope. Silt is smooth and silky and the particles can be seen
but are very small. Sand is gritty and rough. Particle size varies but can easily be seen.
8. Based on what you know about soil, what it is made of, and what is needed for soil to be rich in
nutrients, list 4 reasons that would cause the plants to not grow in a garden.
1) Not enough/too much nutrients
2) Not enough/too much water
3) Not enough/too much sunlight
4) Poor soil composition (not enough organic matter, mostly weathered rock)
9. What role does bacteria and fungi have in creating soil? Bacteria and fungi are the agents that help
to break down organic matter (decaying plants and animals). Without bacteria and fungi the
decay process would take longer and soil would be affect by it not getting the nutrients it needs
for healthy plant growth.
10. Sponge Bob and Patrick were conducting an experiment to see what is the best amount of water to
give to their plant. They decided to conduct an experiment to find out. They got 4 plants of the same
type and height, planted in them in four identical pots and used the same type and amount of potting
soil. They placed each plant in a sunny area. They recorded the results below.
Plant #
1
2
3
4
Amount of water
Received 1 liter of water
per week
Received 3 liters of water
per week
Received 5 liters of water
per week
Received 7 liters of water
per week
Plant Appearance/Observations
Dry, yellow leaves, plant slumped over
Soft green leaves, plant standing up
Soft green leaves, plant standing up
Limp leaves hanging down, plant slumped over
Using the information that Sponge Bob and Patrick provided what amount of water should they give to
their plant? Back your decision with evidence/observations made by Sponge Bob and Patrick.
From Sponge Bob and Patrick’s observations plant #1 did not receive enough water as the
leaves were dry and yellow. Plant #4 received too much water as the leaves were limp, hanging
down and the plant was slumped over. Plants #2 and #3 had soft, green leaves and the plant
was standing upright indicating that it was healthy. Therefore, Sponge Bob and Patrick should
give their plant 3-5 liters of water per week.
11. What is soil made up of? weathered rock, organic matter, minerals, water, and air
12. What is the difference between weathered rocks and organic matter? Weathered rock is broken up
rock in the form of sand, silt, or clay. Weathered rock is inorganic. Organic matter is plant or
animal matter that was once alive and is in the process of decay.
Scientific Method: Read the story below and identify the steps of the Scientific Method that Sponge Bob used.
Sponge Bob wanted to try a new recipe for crab patties, but was unsure if the customers would like it. Sponge
Bob checked out several different recipes for crab patties in cook books and decided that adding the special
seasoning would be the best way to change the crab patties. Sponge Bob cooked several different recipes of
the crab patties and let customers in the restaurant try them out. As the customers tried the different crab
patties he questioned them as to what they liked best and recorded their results. Sponge Bob went back and
reviewed his results from the customers and wrote the likes and dislikes about each recipe. Sponge Bob
concluded that the special seasoning was amongst the favorite preferred by the customers. Sponge Bob
added the new crab patty recipe to the menu and made it the weekly special.
IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM/ASK A QUESTION: Sponge Bob didn’t know which new recipe
customers would like best
COLLECT INFORMATION: Sponge Bob read several cook books and looked at several different
recipes
FORM A HYPOTHESIS: Sponge Bob thinks the special seasoning will be liked by customers the
best
CREATE AND PERFORM THE EXPERIMENT: Sponge Bob cooked crab patties using several
different recipes and let customers sample the different recipes.
ANALYZE THE DATA: Sponge Bob recorded customers favorite recipe and reviewed customers
likes and dislikes about each recipe
COMMUNICATE THE RESULTS: Sponge Bob chose to use the recipe with the special seasoning
and made it the new menu item as well as the weekly special
Define each of the Key Vocabulary Terms below:
Bedrock- the bottom layer of solid rock below all horizons
Scientific Method- a problem solving process
Leaching- the process of transporting dissolved minerals from the A horizon to the B horizon by water
Decomposition- the breaking down of organic material
Data- information collected in an experiment
Texture- the way something feels
Horizons- the layers in the soil profile
Weathered Rock- rock that has been broken down by wind or water
Weathering- the process of breaking down rock into smaller particles/sediments
Observation- a description using the 5 senses (taste, touch, smell, sight, hear)
Organic- something that is or once was alive