The purpose of this lab was to test for which soil type would be best for food production. The tests included Forest Soil, Floodplain Soil, and Garden Soil. We predicted that garden soil will have the best properties for food production because we expected it to have the highest value of nutrients for plants to grow in and a soil composition that is fit for food production (ex. Water Holding, etc). To test our hypothesis, we ran tests measuring Percent Water Content, Organic Material, Nitrates, Phosphates, Potassium, and Percent Sand, Silt, and Clay. The first test we conducted was the Percent Water Content; to determine the value, we massed soil in a tin cup, heated the tin cup and soil in the microwave for 24 hours, and then re-massed
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The second test we conducted was the Organic Material Test; to determine the amount of organic material in each sample of soil. To determine the value, we added a dissolving acid and water to a soil sample, agitated the sample until it had fully dissolved, and then allowed a 24 hour window before collecting data. The test results are given in a numerical scale of 1-5, where 1 is the lowest amount of organic materials and 5 is the highest amount of organic matter. The test results for Floodplain soil were 3 (T1) and 4 (T2); Forest soil was 1 (T1), 1 (T2), 1 (T3); and Garden soil was 5 (T1) and 5 (T2).
The third test we conducted measured the concentration of Nitrates, Phosphates, and Potassium in the soil. To determine this value, we first added a dissolving acid and water to the water sample, breaking apart the soil. The sample was allowed to settle and the water was siphoned out. The water was then placed in three different tubes, and tested for Nitrates, Phosphates, and Potassium using a test kit (certain tablets were dissolved and using a color key, the samples were measured for High (H), Medium(M), Low(L), or Non-present (NP) Nitrates, Phosphates, and Potassium levels). The test results for Floodplain soil were Nitrate-L, Phosphates-NP, Potassium-M (T1) and Nitrate-L, Phosphates-L, Potassium-M (T2); Forest soil was Nitrate-L, Phosphates-M, Potassium-H (T1), Nitrate-NP, Phosphates-L, Potassium-M (T2), Nitrate-NP, Phosphates-L, Potassium-M (T3); and Garden soil was Nitrate-L, Phosphates-M, Potassium-M (T1) and Nitrate-L, Phosphates-L, Potassium-H
The second test we conducted was the Organic Material Test; to determine the amount of organic material in each sample of soil. To determine the value, we added a dissolving acid and water to a soil sample, agitated the sample until it had fully dissolved, and then allowed a 24 hour window before collecting data. The test results are given in a numerical scale of 1-5, where 1 is the lowest amount of organic materials and 5 is the highest amount of organic matter. The test results for Floodplain soil were 3 (T1) and 4 (T2); Forest soil was 1 (T1), 1 (T2), 1 (T3); and Garden soil was 5 (T1) and 5 (T2).
The third test we conducted measured the concentration of Nitrates, Phosphates, and Potassium in the soil. To determine this value, we first added a dissolving acid and water to the water sample, breaking apart the soil. The sample was allowed to settle and the water was siphoned out. The water was then placed in three different tubes, and tested for Nitrates, Phosphates, and Potassium using a test kit (certain tablets were dissolved and using a color key, the samples were measured for High (H), Medium(M), Low(L), or Non-present (NP) Nitrates, Phosphates, and Potassium levels). The test results for Floodplain soil were Nitrate-L, Phosphates-NP, Potassium-M (T1) and Nitrate-L, Phosphates-L, Potassium-M (T2); Forest soil was Nitrate-L, Phosphates-M, Potassium-H (T1), Nitrate-NP, Phosphates-L, Potassium-M (T2), Nitrate-NP, Phosphates-L, Potassium-M (T3); and Garden soil was Nitrate-L, Phosphates-M, Potassium-M (T1) and Nitrate-L, Phosphates-L, Potassium-H