Burkelis
Soil Test... Sandy Loam!
1. Sandy loam retains water and nutrients well because it has some clay in it. Since it has sand and silt in it as well it allows the water and nutrients to move more freely than just clay.
2. At this location there was grass, a few trees, some birds and probably microorganisms.
3. I think the organisms contribute to the soil from the plant litter from trees and grass that add to the O horizon of the soil and return nutrients to it.
4. I do not think the soil I collected will erode very easily. First, I collected it from pretty level ground and the water is more likely to be absorbed than to run-off. Second, there was a good amount of grass on the soil, there was not a lot of bare ground, and this can protect the soil from some causes of erosion like wind. Finally, the soil is loam and has some clay in it as well as some clay characteristic and this makes it less fragile than other more sandy soil types. If this soil were to erode it would probably move to the bottom of my site, near the end of the path. It would make this location more fertile,promote plant growth, and maybe restore some of the damage made from creating the path.
5. As an ecologist it is important to think about soil texture because it can influence the types of plants and biology found in that location. Different plants are better suited for certain soil types.
Soil Test... Sandy Loam!
1. Sandy loam retains water and nutrients well because it has some clay in it. Since it has sand and silt in it as well it allows the water and nutrients to move more freely than just clay.
2. At this location there was grass, a few trees, some birds and probably microorganisms.
3. I think the organisms contribute to the soil from the plant litter from trees and grass that add to the O horizon of the soil and return nutrients to it.
4. I do not think the soil I collected will erode very easily. First, I collected it from pretty level ground and the water is more likely to be absorbed than to run-off. Second, there was a good amount of grass on the soil, there was not a lot of bare ground, and this can protect the soil from some causes of erosion like wind. Finally, the soil is loam and has some clay in it as well as some clay characteristic and this makes it less fragile than other more sandy soil types. If this soil were to erode it would probably move to the bottom of my site, near the end of the path. It would make this location more fertile,promote plant growth, and maybe restore some of the damage made from creating the path.
5. As an ecologist it is important to think about soil texture because it can influence the types of plants and biology found in that location. Different plants are better suited for certain soil types.