Humus

depend on quantity, type, soil properties, and environmental condition (short report: benefits of using compost for mitigating climate change). Such minerals such as phosphorous and potassium are essential to plant growth and are released into the soil at a slow-release form (USCC Factsheet, 2008). Compost can influence the integrity of the soil by reducing erosion and increasing overall moisture. Depending on the type of soil the compost is applied to, clay soil will be more friable and porous, increasing gas and water permeability (USCC Factsheet, 2008). By doing so, erosion is reduced. It can reduce soil from being too compact in fine textured soil by increasing water-holding capacity. The organic matter in compost can create a humus content, which can act as glue for the soil. Compost placed on sandy soil can again, reduce erosion, but also improve the moisture dispersion by allowing water to move more laterally (USCC Factsheet, 2008). Conclusion: In 2012, commercial recycling laws became instated in California. Businesses that generate 4 cubic yards or more of waste must arrange for recycling services (Mandatory Commercial Recycling, 2015). This will aid in reducing the waste in the landfills as well as reduce GHG emissions. A current leading objective will be to reduce GHG emissions 5 millions tons of CO2 by 2020, and will be achieved by increasing recycled materials by 2-3million tons of materials annually from commercial sectors (Mandatory Commercial…

Conditions such as uncleared drainage canals and a swampy soil in Kemar’s landscape are favorable to mosquito breeding and habitation. 2. On a broader level, stagnant water, excessive reeds, and extreme heat can also play a role in the increased mosquito breeding. Specifically, tropical regions are typical breeding grounds for mosquitos thanks to acute water presence from rain. 3. Shanae’s illness could be caused by the increasing number of mosquitos she has been exposed to, some of which cary…

3.0 DETERMINATION OF CONSISTENCY LIMITS OF A SOIL 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 Objective To determine the Atterberg Limits of Soils 3.1.2 Learning Outcomes Understand the Principle of Consistency and Atterberg Limits of Clay Soils Describe the Atterberg Limit Tests and their uses Perform the tests and obtain the Atterberg Limits Calculate some Indices (Flow Index, Plasticity Index and Toughness Index) for the Clay Soil 3.1.3 Consistency indices Fine-grained soils are formed in nature by the gradual…

Soil preference of the Red Compost Worms, Eisenia fetida INTRODUCTION Earthworms provide countless benefits to humans, plants and animals, by improving drainage, advancing nutrient accessibility, and providing a steady soil system, helping to develop farm production. They benefit the soil ecosystem by decomposing and recycling organic matter, opening up pores inside the soil to develop its formation and supplying food for predators . By adding nutrients to the soil they inhabit, earthworms are…

Soil Erodibility Factor (K) The soil erodibility factor (K), a measure of the susceptibility of soil to erosion under standard conditions, is a function of the percentage of silt and coarse sand, the soil structure, the permeability of the soil, and the percentage of organic matter. Wischmeier et al. (1971) defined the soil erodibility factor mathematically and Foster et al. (1996) converted the equation into the following SI unit equation: The soil erodibility factor (K) is determined for each…

Visual Observation Dry Texture Test Wet Texture/ Rolling Test Smear Test Nutrients Quickness of drying Sand Particles visible with eye. The heaviest. Feels gritty and falls apart Crumbles No smear Few nutrients Dries quickly Does not hold water well Silt Just enough big to see them with a magnifying glass. Not as heavy as sand but heavier than clay Holds together, feels smooth and powdery Holds together, moderate crumbling, cannot be rolled in a strand Some smear More nutrients than sand Takes a…

die a foul smell is produced; This means that it would be smart to turn over the compost/bedding to expose the worms and bacteria to fresh air. It may also be a semi good idea to leave the lid open for a while. Red wigglers eat a multitude of food. Ranging from apples and tea leaves, to pizza crust and oatmeal. The worm ingests food through the mouth, which has no teeth. The worm relies on a gizzard for food pulverization. A gizzard is essentially a sac that contains small rock like particles,…

Problem Statement: How do different amounts of soil affect the pH of water? Is the relationship the same for different types of soils? Background: PH is a measurement of how many ions of hydrogen are found in a solution. The pH scale measures how alkaline or acidic an object is. The scale has numbers ranging from zero (which are considered the most acidic) to fourteen (the most alkaline, otherwise known as the most basic). Pure water has a pH of seven, however most water, either from the tap or…

plants to remain in a damp environment but the water could drain easily. The peat is more compact and almost had a woody texture. When wet this substitute was compact. Due to weekly observations I came to the conclusion that Giant Zinnias grow better and at a faster rate in a soil make of perlite or containing perlite. When we transferred our plants into larger pots I mixed perlite into a couple of the pods to see if it would effect the growing patterns compared to those only in peat. The…

These foxes have been successfully employed on fruit farms to control pests while leaving the fruit wholly intact, as they have no interest in consuming anything but the flesh of other animals. Just stay away from the frugivorous Blanford’s Fox! Another upside to carnivorous foxes is that they are a natural predator to rabbits, an invasive species which has overcome Europe, and more recently Australia. Rabbits are able to decimate the natural grasses in any habitat they are introduced to, which…