Team,
Here is our first soil game:
SOIL Analysis Lab
•Soil Testing Laboratory: In this lab soil is tested for physical traits and chemical properties, which provide information about the soil's condition and suitability for crops, septic fields, or other purposes. All of the factors tested are listed below.
Chemical properties
- pH-Clay soil requires more lime (calcium oxide) or alum (aluminum sulfate) to alter its pH than do sandy or loam soils. Iron necessary for plant growth is unavailable when the soil becomes alkaline. Gymnosperms (pine, fir, etc.) grow better in mildly acidic soil.
- Nitrogen-common plant fertilizer component.
- Phosphorus-common plant fertilizer component.
- Potash-common name for a compound that contains one of the potassium oxides.
Physical characteristics
- Soil type-sand, silt, clay-use mesh screen, cheese cloth, soil settling in water tubes to determine the percent of each type of particle in the sample.
- Water-holding capacity-because of the small pores between clay particles, water moves very slowly through clay. Therefore, clay has a greater holding capacity than silt or sand.
- Permeability-the movement of gas or liquid through the soil.
- Friability-good soil is rich, light, and easily worked with fingers-this is good for plant growth because roots can easily grow through it.
- Percent Humus-a measure of soluble organic constituents of soil-the higher
the number, the better. Organic soil has qualities of both sand and clay. The small particles of organic soil come together to form larger clusters. Water can be retained inside a cluster, but can move between clusters to percolate. Organic material is also high in nutrients.
- Buffering capacity of three different types of bedrock such as marble, granite, and · basalt when exposed to acid. Marble has high calcium content and is a better buffer than other rocks.
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