Geography Soil Assignment

Soil Assessment

Soil is an integral part of the ecosystem. Optimal growth for vegetation can only occur when the soil conditions are correct for a species

Methods

Site:    

Select a site to extract your soil sample. Record a descriptive location of the site and capture a photograph of the area.      

           

Water  Test:   

• A Water Test estimates the actual % of Sand, Silt, and Clay.
• Fill 1/2 of a jar with your soil sample.
• Ensure there are no large chucks
• Fill the remaining space with water – to the brim
• Shake vigorously for 3-5 mins
• Allow to sit and settle
• Measure the thicknesses of the settled deposits at the following time intervals and capture a photo of each.
• After 1 min the material that has settled to the bottom is sand the thickness is = SAND
• After 2 hrs you should see two layers. The layer above the sand is silt. The thickness of this layer is = SILT
• When water clears or ~2 days a third layer may appear this is the clay layer =CLAY
• Measure the total thickness of the deposited material (from bottom of jar to top of deposited material = TOTAL thickness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Calculate the following percentages (I already did this part)
• (SAND / Total) x 100 = Sand Percentage %

(3.5cm/4.5cm) x 100 = 77.8%

• (SILT / Total) x 100 = Silt Percentage %

(0.5cm/4.5cm) x 100 = 11.1%

• (CLAY/ Total) x 100 = Clay Percentage %

(0.5cm/4.5cm) x 100 = 11.1%

• Plot the intersection point for your sample percentages (I already did this)

 

 

 

Report

Prepare a brief lab report with following sections and information. Introduction: briefly provide context to the assignment and the importance of soils. Site Description: describe where your sample was collected. Provide a regional and local context. Results: present your calculations, results and images. Complete the soils pyramid. Discussion: briefly discuss the results of your soil assessment. Address the following: What is your soil type? Describe your soil type and the biophysical conditions this soil creates. Does this soil match the geography of your sample location, explain?

 

 

Plot your Water Tests by circling the percentage and using a dot at the intersection

(I already did this part, the picture below is the result)

(the soil type is sandy loam)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After 1 minute.

 

 

After 2 hours

 

After 4 days

 

 

 

A descriptive location of the site and a photograph of the area.

(Tong Ming Street Park

Tong Ming St, Tseung Kwan O

2791 3100

https://goo.gl/maps/4vP7gj2hvFq7Fygz9)

 

Soil Assessment Rubric

Criteria	Excellent
Introduction	Provides strong context to the assignment and the importance of soils.
Site Description	Provides a strong local and regions discussion of the soil sample location.  Well documented with images and or maps
Results	Provides clear imagery of the process, with clear and correct calculations.
Soil Pyramid	Correctly plots the soil type on the chart and it matches the calculations
Discussion	Outstanding discussion on soil type and the biophysical conditions it creates.  Provides great discussion on site and the soil