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These are the 1 normal ammonium acetate extracted potassium values from a calcareous sand green at Cornell University. The plots are labeled 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6; those were the rates of K fertilizer applied, in units of grams per square meter, every 14 days, during the 2002 and 2003 growing seasons. The soil was tested 10 times from June 2002 to May 2004, and the results are shown in these dot plots. There were a total of 40 soil tests for each K fertilizer rate.
20210802_1963_7D2-28 Pagani Penetrometer #2
They took readings of the soil (actually mainly sand) every 1 or 2cm to a depth of 10m, using 4 tonne of pressure to push the probe in.
#13149
20210802_1956_7D2-28 Pagani Penetrometer #1
They took readings of the soil (actually mainly sand) every 1 or 2cm to a depth of 10m, using 4 tonne of pressure to push the probe in.
#13148
Graphs may seem abstract, cold and lifeless, they do however represent real world objects and ideas.
This "bar graph" is a sample of earth from my garden, mixed with water and left to stand in order to separate out the various sized particles.
Verdict: half basically ok, half not quite so ok.
The EPA recommended limit for safeness (of eating food from/playing in etc) is 400ppm. I had been planting and (lightly) eating out of the 207ppm plot, and I'm not too worried about that. The higher ph of the soil limits the availability of lead to plants, so ... probably alright there, but I'd like very much to ameliorate the situation anyway.
By the time I got this report however, I had planted potatoes in the 398ppm plot. I decided to let them grow out for the summer, harvest them, and throw them out.
Then the remediation project:
Turn all the soil in together, bring the ph down a bit (making the lead more available for uptake), add organic matter (compost, peat moss), and plant indian mustard (Brassica juncea) as a fall (non-eating) crop.
Come winter when the mustard bolts, I'll pull it out and dispose of it in the regular garbage. Then I'll send another sample to Penn State for nutrient and lead testing, and see how successful my attempt at phytoremediation in a single growing season has been.
I ordered enough seed to plant again in the spring if I want to have another go with the mustard, but we'll see how it goes.
Big ole bowl of spinach. One either side, measuring cups of soil to send off to Penn State for testing.
Soil to the right should be solid. I excavated and replaced it a few years ago, and have been working in good compost since.
To the left, my potato mounds, might be more dodgy.
Both samples are being tested for basic nutrient needs, ph profile and whatnot, but also for lead (most importantly, especially in urban soil of unknown origin/treatment).
Results, alas:
www.flickr.com/photos/kisforkateatkins/3851664635/in/set-...
The type of soil on my site was sand.
My type of soil doesn’t absorb water easily and does so at a slow rate with a lot of water flowing away before it can be absorbed, so my soil’s texture hinder movement of water flow and nutrients for plants to be absorbed.
The types of organisms I saw were bees, ladybugs and beetles, golden poppy, and a variety of plants, such as the sour grass and shamrock.
Since my type of soil cannot retain water well, plants obtain all of the available water and nutrients, for there isn’t a large amount of such resources, causing the soil’s quality to be dry with little or no nutrients.
Yes, the soil I collected is likely to be eroded because it is so light in weight, for it does not retain water well, it can be easily blown away. Also, each gain of sand has no adhesion to other gains, making its weight lighter. It can be eroded to places in my site, such as the parking lot, towards the lake and on to the pavement road. If the sand moves, many plants in my location would have a lot less soil to gather water and nutrients from, causing a decrease in the plant population. Also, homes or refuges for rodents and other insects or animals would be lost.
It’s important to think about soil texture because soil supports the greatest primary producers in the world—plants. We depend on plants for food, oxygen, earth’s biomes and so much more. We need to know what texture soils are essential for the success of plants, otherwise, the decrease in plants would have a negative effect on the environment.
Caption: Ken makes soil tests with a Greek Agricultural adviser for the Aridea Valley.
Citation: PAX Collection, 1945-2006. Isabel Gingrich Glanzer 1959 Scrapbook. HM1-927 Box 3 Folder 4 photo 82. Mennonite Church USA Archives - Goshen. Goshen, Indiana.
My soil is acidic, I already knew that because my hydrangea blooms the most beautiful blue color.
chiotsrun.com/2009/04/28/the-balance-of-nature-growing-soil/
How to sample soil from various parts of your given plot. Not very complex in my wee garden, although the diagrams were appreciated all the same.
A nasty can of Maxwell House Lite that's been sitting in my cabinet for a year or two, re-purposed as an acidifying agent for my soil.
To make the lead more available for uptake by plants, the soil needs to be a bit acidic. My soil, pre-growing season, had a ph of about 7.2, so hopefully this brings it down a piece.
I mixed all the soil, the bad and the not as bad, all together. During the early part of the summer I also incorporated fallen pine needles and holly leaves, so there's been some additional organic matter added as well.
Soil tests commissioned by the Jay Heritage Center verified that the dirty fill brought from Playland Amusement Park by Westchester County Parks was indeed contaminated and contained levels of SVOCs and heavy metals like arsenic that exceeded the NYDEC's objectives for both unrestricted and residential usage. The Jay Heritage Center will continue to see proper restoration and remediation of this National Historic Landmark.
www.lohud.com/article/20100301/OPINION/3010306/Soil-test-...
www.myryesoundshore.com/index.php?option=com_content&...
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Soil texture: gritty, medium to fine grain size (.08-.003 inches)
Soil Classification- Loamy Sands
Color- Light Brown
Clay and Silt-
Dilatancy: the soil pat (1/2 inch cube) reacts quickly to shaking (1-2 seconds). This indicates that the soil contains fines.
Dry strength: Slight dry strength, the dried pat was easily crumbled between fingers. When crumbled the texture was gritty indicating sands. If the feel was smooth and powdery like flour, that would indicate silt present
Toughness: the rolled out thread before crumbling was .5 cm long.
The soils texture of the capstone location is of Loamy Sands of the Spinks series. This soil has a high hydraulic conductivity, meaning good drainage. The permeability of the soil is moderately rapid. The moderate permeability and high hydraulic conductivity allows for infiltration of water to percolate downward easily to plants roots but also allows for nutrient to be transported downward. The loamy sands aid in translocation of organic material down into deeper soil profiles. Looking at the translocation in a short term manner is good for vegetation allowing roots to easily obtain nutrients from the humus. Long term translocation without the addition to the O horizon will lead to a nutrient depleted soil.
The organisms present within the soil were worms which aid in the process of translocation. Plant life around the area of sample includes grasses, black raspberries, poison ivy, white oak, red oak, shagbark hickory, meadow rue, black cherry.
The vegetation found within the site is a good indicator of the nutrient availability. The Oak-Hickory forest biome has a high nutrient demand. The nutrient uptake by the trees and herbaceous plants are stored in the biomass. As the organisms lose their leaves or die, decay ensures the continuation of nutrient addition to the O horizon.
The Spinks soil of my location has a small potential of erosion due to the high rate of infiltration of precipitation and the topography of the land is relatively flat with high topography to the east. Erosion maybe possible in a large precipitation event that exceeds the capacity of infiltration surface runoff would erode the thick organic layer and then reach the soil. The erosion of the organic would lessen the amount of returned nutrients for that season, the high concentration of vegetation would replenish the humus relatively quick. The transportation of the eroded soil would increase the amount of sands located at the toe slope of the outwash. This would carry feldspars which can increase the amount of calcium, potassium, and sodium as the sand grains are weathered making the soil in that location higher in nutrients.
As an ecologist it is important to always take soil into consideration to get a better estimation of the ecosystem in the area. Soil will determine plant communities and therefore the animal communities present. Soil also is an indication to climate and paleoenvironments, this can be used to get a representation of the ecological succession that has taken place.
Researchers and farmers collect soil sample for test prior Aflasafe application in maize field in Burkina Faso. Photo by IITA.
Farmers collect soil samples for soil test before the application of Aflasafe in maize field in Burkina Faso. Photo by IITA.
1) Clay soil hinders water flow and because of its thick & sticky nature, is slow draining. Because its particles are located tightly together, the soil has good water and nutrient retention.
2) The area in which the soil samples were collected were in understory areas consisting of trees & shrubs. At the location there were several birds, squirrels, ants, beetles, etc.
3) These animals could effect the rate of decomposition of organic materials around the area. Because of its thick nature, the clay soil is then good at retaining the broken down materials and minerals. The burrowing of the insects into the soil could also provide pathways for air intake into the soil.
4) The soil I collected is less likely to be eroded due to the tight nature of its particles causing it to be "sticky". The loss of the clay soil would most likely expose several plant roots to the surrounding air, causing the plants to dry out and die. The erosion would also cause large trees that count on the thick clay to anchor their roots to be less stable. The soil would likely erode to areas around the pond and streams. This would affect the way the water drained into these areas, and would make it hard for smaller wetland plants to anchor their roots and grow.
5) It is important to consider the soil texture in order to learn about the ecosystem and plants that can thrive and survive in that given area. For instance, some plants with larger roots (such as trees) may find it beneficial to grow in clay like soil in which they can anchor. However, other smaller plants may find it hard to plant their roots in the clay material, and may not be able to survive in the slow draining conditions. It is important to remember soil and how it aids in water and nutrient retention (leeching). Also, it is important to consider the types of animal populations that can live in the area. For instance, some land animals find burrowing below the surface crucial to their survival. By knowing the types of soils that they can penetrate and survive in could tell you a lot about the ecosystem and how it operates.
Here is one of the plots of soil I used to draw out my sample of soil. The questions and answers are on the second photo.
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.
My soil's texture was a bit difficult to determine. In step 1, it balled up easily in my hand, and in step 2 when bounced it stayed as a ball (eventually crumbled after the 4th bounce). However, in step 3 when I tried to make a ribbon out of it, it completely collapsed in my hands, no matter what method I attempted. Based on our instructions, it was then hard to determine soil type - especially since the soil "sounded" gritty, and even appeared to contain sand. Ultimately, it seemed most logical to describe it as sandy loam.
Since the soil texture is "gritty" but has an ability to clump, its effect on water and nutrient movement is difficult to estimate. In my previous pictures, its clear that when it rains the soil holds a lot of water - which makes it seem as though the soil is mostly clay, and less permeable. However, since the soil also has a very gritty quality, it does not hinder the flow of nutrients as greatly as a more clay based soil might.
Other than grass and weeds, I have never seen any organisms in the area where I collected the soil. It is from the edge of the park, on a slight incline and a decent distance from trees (where the birds, squirrels, and worms hang out). The soil I collected is at risk of erosion, because of the incline on which it resides and the constant flow of water that rushes over it during heavy rains. Although it gains some protection form erosion since it can hold "some" water and clump to itself. It would erode into the center of the park, along with the majority of the water and nutrients, which is why the largest trees reside within the center of the region.
After doing this project, I realized that it is very important for an ecologist to think about soil texture. The texture of the soil I collected only seemed to support grass and weeds, and did not attract larger plant or any animal species. Despite its ability to form a ball, my soil samples seemed to have a lot of a sand-like substance, and as we read sand is so permeable that nutrients and water do not linger long enough to benefit organisms, so it was not a great surprise that not much grew in the area.
Regional development project ,soil testing work on the old caseway between in gaukendi and hankeda, Hithadhoo.
Here's the second plot of soil that I used to draw my sample of soil.
1) How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?
The soil that I used was very grainy and looked like it could have pretty good size pores for water to move through. So for this, the soil texture would aid water flow and the movement of nutrients because due to the grainy texture of the soil, water and nutrients can flow easily. But if the soil was really compact and hard, there would be very little room for the water and nutrients to flow and as a result it would be less able to flow through more compact soils.
2) What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?
In terms of animals there are squirrels, cats, chipmunks, insects and fungi.
In terms of plant species there was hosta plant shown in the edge of the picture.
There was also certainly microorganisms with the presence of nematodes.
3) What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?
Squirrels and chipmunks could have an impact on the soil quality when they dig up the soil and bury their food such as nuts or seeds. When the animals dig holes, it helps mix up the soil and allows rainwater to enter. This helps feed the thirsty plants and also helps prevent flooding. Also if the squirrel forgets about their buried food microorganisms and other invertebrates can degrade the nuts which kind of recycles the nutrients back into the soil like nitrogen and carbon. In terms of the cat, I would have to say that the cat defecates on the soil so when they do the feces eventually decomposes and also adds essential nutrients to the soil. Like squirrels and chipmunks, cats may also dig up the soil which aids the soil in collecting rainfall and thus helps feed the microorganisms and plants present in that soil. In terms of the microorganisms they help make nitrogen for plants. Some of the bacteria live free; while others grow on the roots of different plants. Finally the bacteria may also help rot dead plants to recycle nutrients back into the soil. Nematodes have been known to be pests for different types of plants but in soil, as unusual as this sounds, they collect and provide the nutrients to the soil and thus help mix the nutrients in the soil up. Different insects have been known to mix the soil up so that more air gets in the soil and helps the diverse microorganisms and other life forms to survive. They also chew up dead leaves and other dead vegetation so that the microorganisms and fungi can use the nutrients for their benefit. Also, they're a food source for many different soil organisms as well. Some types of fungi grow on plant roots. The fungi have many filaments that are like thin hairs that spread all through far beyond the roots. This allows the fungi to help the plants get food and water from it. And, the plant makes the sugar the fungi need for energy. So the fungi help the plant and the plant helps the fungi! Other fungi form mushrooms and can help rot dead plants to recycle nutrients. The hosta plant, like any other plant, gives the soil nitrogen so that the nitrogen cycle can proceed and make nitrates and nitrites that are needed for the cycle to occur.
4) Is the soil you collected likely to be eroded? How would its loss affect the current
location? Where would it erode to in your site? How would its presence affect the
location it moves to?
The soil collected was not likely to be eroded because the soil that I collected on was on a low elevation level in the environment so it would only collect and gather basically in itself. More nutrients and soil is most likely eroded into the location where the soil sample was taken due to the levels of elevation surrounding the soil. The soil and nutrients would erode to that location during rain mostly as the wind would not greatly affect the spot the soil was taken from.
5) As an ecologist why is it important to think about soil texture?
Soil texture is very important to ecologists because soil texture is one of the main determinants of whether or not nutrients will flow through the soil. If they can, then the many different cycles (carbon, nitrogen, water, etc) may occur. These cycles are critical for an environment to be sustained and balanced. But if the soil texture was very compact and hard, then barely any water or nutrients would be able to move which could cause damage to the environmental cycles and then cause a crisis for that specific environment in terms of the organisms living there and the vegetation. So ecologists need to know the soil composition to see whether or not they need to make some sort of adjustment to the soil to allow these cycles to proceed. So in turn, soil texture is very important to an ecologist.
The soil texture is loamy ( the moistened ball did not break)but it is a little sandy, it formed a 2.5cm ribbon.
1.water would drain relatively easily through the soil so minerals and nutrients would leach through to the deeper layers over time.
2. There are a variety of organisms in the location; desiduous trees, perennial and annual plants, burrowing mammals such as chipmunks, other mammals such as squirrels and raccoons. They increase the level of organic matter in the soil. Earthworms and nematodes increase the aeration of soil and help the breakdown of organic matter; fungi and bacteria also help in this respect. A dense system of shallow roots of trees and other plants would help with the the retention of water and nutrients.
The soil is likely to be eroded through weathering overtime this would lead to a movement of organic material and nutrients away from the location.
Researcher collects soil sample for test prior Aflasafe application in maize field in Burkina Faso. Photo by IITA.
Silty clay has a high percentage of clay (40-60%), around 40-60% silt and very low sand if any (0-20%). Feeling the clay, it was very smooth and easy to manipulate. But having clay and silt together means a majority of the soil is very small particles that have very little space to let water filter through. This means that nutrients and water may settle and take a lot longer to get into the groundwater supply. In fact, the area I was surveying had a lot of standing puddles near high grasses.
I didn't see any earthworms, which I normally associate with rich soils but I did see snails on top of the soil. I would imagine earthworms don't like clay/silt soil as much because it's harder to move through with little space and high compaction. The earthworms help move air into the soil so I think they would be prevalent in sandy soil. The snails would seem more accustomed to wetter environments and stay on top of the soil so silty clay is more appropriate.
Like I mentioned before, lack of earthworms mean the soil isn't being turned over as much and there is less aeration. The snails probably like the wet soil but I don't know if they would contribute anything to its qualities. Lack of certain creatures probably attribute to the qualities.
The soil would not likely be eroded, especially in the area I was looking at. Most of it is moist and compacted so it has a hard time losening up. Any major rain events would make it more compact and saturated and other events, like pulling up the roots of plants that keep the soil in place, probably wouldn't do much. There also wouldn't be much erosion in this area because most of the ground is covered in tall grasses or trees, keeping the soil firmly in place. There aren't large areas of exposed soil that might make it more prone to erosion. If anything, it might erode around the stream banks into the river, affecting the turbidity and cleanliness of the water.
Soil texture is a very important variable to think about when considering abiotic conditions that affect organisms. It impacts what sort of small organisms live in the soil, which may affect herbivores and thus carnivores in the area (so the life cycle). And the tendency for water to collect or filter through may influence standing bodies of water that draw in animals. Also, soil texture would dictate which plants are growing in that area. And the plants that grow would also affect the other organisms living around them.