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Joseph here with his stick on the site. He is showing us around where he has dug soil testing pits prior to construction. That's Gbloyee in the background.
My soil was able to make a ball and I was also able to bounce it as well. I would consider my soil to be Clay Loam from the tests I conducte and the feelig of the modifyers. my soil aids the watershed in my area because the little sandy texture helps the flow of water and the silt comes form the decokposign plants and the clay helps holf the water in for the little pools that collect in the marsh areas. The types if organisms that are in the areas is grass, frogs, aquatic plant life. These organisms affect the soil by them decomposing an fertilizing, They also allow the water flow with the plants. I think thatthe soil that we collected wouldn't be eroded but it migth be it was in a pretty flat spot for the area, and i also didn;t collect from one of the pools.
A soil test is a process by which elements (N, P, K, pH, EC, Ca, Mg, S, organic carbon,and micronutriants: Zn, Br, Mn, Fe, Cu, Mo) are chemically removed from the soil and measured for their “plant available” content within the sample. For more details visit us @ bit.ly/2me5K92
a) I took two soil samples from an area close to the dirt path in McClaren Park. Sample A is sandy clay loam as it formed a sturdy ball and measured about 3 cm in ribbon. Sample B is sandy loam as the ball still formed but the ribbon was shorter in length.
b) The soil textures are quite similar and they are good for water and nutrient absorption, however, there are plenty off small rocks that make the soil pretty rough and hard in texture, which moves water and nutrients towards the watershed easily.
c) There were a few small worms and snails in the soil sample.
d) The worms and snails help mix and soften the soil as they move around in the soil. The more movement of these organisms, the more soft the soil may be.
e) I would like to say the soil is likely to be eroded because the park has hills, which can definitely cause some movement and transportation of soil and rocks to a different location within the park. Loss of soil in the location would definitely change what organisms can live or be grown in the park. Since the park is surrounded by a lot of vegetation, there would be very little vegetation with the loss of soil. The soil would erode towards the bottom of the hills, into the valleys and within the watershed. The movement of soil would cause plenty of vegetation/organisms to grow in the area the soil settles in.
f) It is important to think about soil texture because we can determine what organisms are capable of living in that type of soil or area containing that type of soil. We can determine what plants and animals can or can't survive in that soil texture or type.
A.The soil is silt loam. I think it will help the flow of water because silt allows for water to flow through it.
B.The only organisms I saw was grass and things like worms and “rolly pollies”.
C.They can add nutrients be excreting their waste in it. they can also remove nutrients by digesting it like worms.
D.I may be moved or eroded at some point but I don’t think it is very likely unless an animal moves it and it wouldn’t have much of an effect of the location.
Here's the first soil test, which cost about USD $2.50. Not in the photo are pH (very alkaline, ~8.0) and potassium, which I think seemed to be low. I confirmed the pH test with separate litmus paper. The soil really is that basic. The onions don't seem to mind too much, though.
My soil’s texture is a sandy clay loam, I think. This texture accounts for the large stagnant pools of water on either side of the path, but also for the fact that many plants still are able to grow here... the sand and loam components aid in water flow so that the plants don’t “drown” in the soil. Nutrients are able to move through the soil along with the water in plentiful enough quantities that the plants receive them, but many of the nutrients also probably flow into the stagnant pools of water and stay there. Organisms such as beech trees, weeds, ferns, and some moss were growing in the area that I collected the soil sample. These organisms probably add to the total nutrient content of the soil as they die and decompose. They probably also keep the soil in place and keep it from eroding. The soil that I collected was nearer to the path running through the middle of my patch of land, so it probably is likely to be eroded, since there were no plants on the path. If washed off the path, it would most likely erode into the stagnant pools of water on either side of the path, where it would collect on the bottom and create a muck layer. As an ecologist it is very important to think about soil texture because that is the “food” that feeds your entire ecosystem from the bottom up. The texture affects which organisms live in the soil, which in turn affects plant growth, which in turn affects the diet of other organisms in the area.
a)Sandy loam was found at my site.
b)The sandy soil has a low surface area that gives the soil poor water retention and very little absorption of nutrients. Yet it is ideal for soil drainage (which some plants require more than others) due to the large soil particles of sand that let water flow through making it easier for fresh water to move in, this drainage of soil decreases the chance of the plant getting a disease.
c)The organisms there were bees, worms, ants, different kinds of plants and flowers, small birds.
d)The worms in the soil create burrows that allow air, nutrients into the soil and an option for efficient drainage. The birds that leave feces behind provide nutrients to the soil by fertilization. The plants and flowers in the soil area stop or slow down erosion by holding the soil in place using their roots.
e)No, because sandy loam doesn’t easily absorb water, this soil tends to form large clumps and pore spaces so it’s able to resist even a rainstorm fairly well. However, wind can sometimes cause soil erosion with sandy loam, the soil will likely travel down the steep hill and disperse into the giant lake. This would cause some plants to lose a lot of nutrients which are mainly located at the top layer of soil.
f)Because the soil texture can help us define how well vegetation in the environment can receive nutrients and water to grow healthy, as well as help animals receive the same benefits. Without sufficient nutrients and water, these organisms may die. Also the texture will help us determine how to prevent soil erosion from different things like rainstorms, wind storms and soil structure itself. The ecologist can better understand and conserve the organisms in the environment with such information.
a. Sandy loam captures and holds moisture within itself. It consists of numerous different nutrients which do not tend to get depleted very easily. Sandy loam holds it’s shape but also allows nutrients and water to pass through the ecosystem regularly.
b.In the area where the soil was collected there are organisms such as trees, ferns, fungus, moss, worms, insects, small mammals, deer, birds and many others species.
c.When these organisms decay they add organic matter to the soil. Also, the plants use some of the nutrients in the soil, but they also drop their leaves each fall, adding organic matter. The insects dig holes in the soil allowing air to pass through and this helps keep the nutrients flowing.
d.The soil collected is not eroded. It is highly rich in organic matter and remains relatively stable due to the tree roots keeping it in place. If it was moved the current location would not be as rich in nutrients or plant life. If it did erode it would erode to the pond, making it more shallow and adding more nutrients into the water. Also, it might make the water foggy which would prevent sunlight from being present for photosynthesis. This would affect the way the aquatic species lived and they would have to adapt to the different levels of nutrients.
This soil was extremely moist. This would hinder any further water flow through the soil, as the soil already appears to be moistened to capacity. This would also deter any further nutrient flow. However, nutrients could be greatly absorbed through the already moistened soil areas. There was not many organisms that I saw in this soil, perhaps the water content is too high for most. However, there were a lot of misquitos on the surface. Their decomposition in this area could lead to increased nitrogen levels. While I don't think that soil erosion is likely to occur here due to wind because the soil is much heavier due to its high water content, it could be washed away by water. This would cause a lack of environment for any organisms populating it.
QUESTION: In this environment the soil was more clay-like. However, not all ponds are surrounded by this type of soil. What would the species living in the pond be like if the soil were different? Would the soil hold different types of nutrients that would draw different species to the environment? Or would it have little to no effect?
How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?
My soil's texture aids with the flow of water and nutrients because since it has clay it provides more nutrients for the plants and it being a loam allows it to retains nutrients well and retains water while still allowing the water to move freely.
What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?
The area I went to there were a lot of trees, brush and decomposing leaves and sticks. I didnt see any bugs in the area I got the dirt from.
What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?
The decomposing material helps put nutrients back into the soil to provide to the still living plants. The trees would be helpful to keep the ground from eroding and flooding since they absorb the water.
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?
I dont think the soil I got is very likely to be eroded. The area I collected from is flat and there are a lot of trees to help keep soil in place. Loss of soil from my area would take away nutrient from the trees and plants, causing them to possibly die. Since the plot I was at is flat there isnt really anywhere the water can go so it would just sit there most likely. There is a river running along the edge of the forest so a lot of the water around there would go into the river. I wasnt around that area though. Where ever the soil does move to in my area would probably provide extra nutrient to that area and cause healthier plants.
As an ecologist why is it important to think about soil texture?
It is important to think about the soil texture because it is the basis of your entire ecosystem. The soil determines what plant life grows, which determines what organisms such as bugs and animals can live there. If you dont know what type of soil you have you wont know what type of life it can support.
This is an agricultural field. The soil soaks up much of the water flow and does not allow for much nutrient spreading other than to the field. The past year soy beans were planted in this particular field, deer, turkeys, squirrels, birds and other animals come out into it to feed. The beans help the soil because once they are tilled up they decompose and create more nutrients for the soil. The soil is not likely to be eroded seeing how it is an agricultural field. The loss of soil in this field would mean not being able to plant crops. If the soil on the property were to be eroded it would most likely come on the hill from the house and the small stream. The stream would carry this down and let it settle on the bottom or in a slow moving bend. It is important for ecologists to think about this because we have to protect our habitats and building on land that would cause erosion would account for more habitat loss as a result.
We had to have a soil test done before we could get the building permit for the machine shed. Christian dug three 6-foot deep holes for this guy to climb down into and look at the sand.
a)Sand
b) Sand allows the water to freely flow down the hillside.
c)The hillside is covered in ivy that surrounds Eucalyptus trees. Many other organisms, like banana slugs, also live inside the ivy.
d) All the roots from the ivy keep the soil loose and allow slugs, worms, beetles, etc to live under the ivy.
e) Yes it can easily be eroded because it is so loose. If it were to all erode, and slide down the hill into the middle of the park, the ivy wouldn't be able to live on the hill anymore so it wouldn't be able to be a habitat for all the other organisms. I don't think the ivy would survive if it was in the middle of the park either because that is where all the water seems to pool.
f) Different types of soil are better for certain organisms because of the amount of moisture they can hold and their stability.
a) Silty Clay Loam
b) When the soil is dry it clumps into a hard surface creating a high level of runoff. As the soil becomes more moist it absorbs the water and nearby plants can take up this water. The smoothness of the soil when moist can also create a landslide which can be deadly to neighboring plants.
c) I collected soil in two areas. Area 1 was barely off the trail where there was scattered grass, small flowering & green plants; mostly early succession plants due to the high disturbance on the trails. Area 2: Had many huge Eucalyptus trees, a multitude of arthropods, small birds, there was a nearby stream with algae growing, fungi (mushrooms & Crustose Lichens).
d) Area 1: Early sussession plants are great at increasing nutrient availability, developing soils, reducing pH, or providing shade from the sun and shelter from the wind which help the soil become more nutrient for organisms that can't grow in low nutrient soil. Area 2: The fungi in the soil helps keep the soil clean and clears areas for new plant growth to occur.
e) During rainy seasons the soil is most likely eroding due to the soil texture I mentioned above and the high volume of runoff. Soil moving from an above area can effect organisms in a lower region because the new soil can be made up of different organic molecules or even have a higher pH level; It can be seen as non-native soil even from a mile away. I have noticed the top of the hill supports different organisms than the lower areas. This could be determined due to soil tolerance, soil nutrition, or even sun exposure. If the non-native soil in eroding down the hill it can prevent the already occupied species to diminish and cause a new species to grow, or possibly allow the older species to grow more efficiently because of the new soil nutrients. A way to prevent erosion would be to plant more vegetation (the roots will keep the soil together like glue).
f) Soil texture can help us determine how much water is being absorbed by the soil to replenish the aquifers. It is also helpful in determining if a possible landslide could occur and destroy habitats in the lower regions. Soil texture is also a good indication of how nutrient the soil is.
Randall Bankhead is conducting a soil test at Bankhead Farm in Roscoe, Texas, on March 29, 2021, utilizing a soil probe to get a sample from below ground level.
Watch the video on Bankhead Farm at youtu.be/Y82S00156Nk
-Since I determined my soil to be loamy, and loam is categorized as a median flow soil, water and nutrients should move through at an ideal pace. This should allow for ideal nutrient and water retention in the soil.
-I collected the soil in an area where the grass started to fade into the tree line. The soil contained dead leaves/grass, and some small insects.
-The decaying organic matter seemed to hold the soil together.
-While the soil might be subject to some erosion due to its loamy nature, I don't expect any signifiant erosion to occur due to tree cover and little traffic. Furthermore, the decaying organic matter seems to do a good job of holding the soil together.
-The loss of soil due to erosion would affect many plants and organisms that live in the soil. If the soil were to be eroded, it would likely move to a lower elevation and settle as water tends to do in this area. The soils movement to a lower elevation might affect the location by preventing or slowing the natural flow of water through the system. In, turn this could cause water to settle (creating some flooding problems).
-As an ecologist it's important to study soil texture because it plays a major role in the ecosystem. Since soil type determines how water and nutrients flow, it is important when considering what kind of species can survive in a given area.
A.I noticed that the lowpoint, the water, ended up a mirky pool of blended colors. All of the water flowed to the pond, which was the lowpoint on site.
B.Yes, the water flowed as I would have anticipate, from the high to the low point, following the grooves in the paper.
C.The closest human structure is a road to the north of my site about 80 yards.
D.Carbon is entering my site through the gametes of the leaves on the trees. Plants use Carbon Dioxide and turn it into glucose. This sugar then puts carbon into the cell walls of the plants leaves, and when they are eaten by herbivores, the carbon cycles through the ecosystem.
Nitrogen is introduced into the ecosystem by nitrogen fixers that are able to sequester carbon and then cycle it through the ecosystem.
Phosphorus enters into my ecosystem by the weathering of rocks. These mineral deposits are absorbed into the roots of plants and cycled through my ecosystem that way.
E.These minerals are concentrated in the biomass of plants mainly.
F.These nutrients can be taken off of the site by water runoff or by the removal of lumber that contains large amounts of these nutrients.
G.The landscape affects where organisms are located because the pathways of water moved nutrients through the ecosystem and provides for plants and animals. Water governs life in the ecosystem.
H.An organism might effect this process by its ability to provide for other organisms in the ecosystem, and its ability to sequester and move nutrients through the ecosystem.
A). My soils texture aids my area because loams are known as good soils to grow crops in. As well as they are good at draining water out of areas.
B) In the area where i collected the soil you can just bairly see a leaf worm as well as a few rolli pollis.
C).These organisms feed on the dead decaying leaves as well as they til the soi, creating a loose soil capable of stimulating growth.
D) The soil i sampled is not likely to be eroded because i took the sample at the highest elevation making it less prone to water runoff.
E). If this soil moved it would cause a much flatter area giving no real topography to the area.
F). It would affect the location it moved to by settling down are creating a higher elevation as well as stimulate growth.
Soil Texture: silty clay loam
This soil is made of primarily smaller particles and therefore larger surface area. This larger surface area allows higher water-holding capacity and in turn lower water and nutrient permeability. Silty clay loam hinders plants by retaining almost half of its water.
The environment is lush with insect species, such as the butterfly pictured, snails, frogs, bird species, and small fish. Marsh grass very densely inhabits the swamp area (more so than during week 2). There are also algae and microorganisms living in the water.
Algae and insects break down fallen leaves and stalks from the marsh grass, which adds recycled nutrients and organic matter to the composition of the soil. The root systems from the grass ease the movement of soil from different depths, which rejuvenates the soil with more of its deep parent material. Some organisms form pores in the soil, which silty clay loam has many of.
As evidenced by the massive quantity of soil deposited onto the concrete pathway next to the marsh, this soil is likely to erode. The run off appears to be due to high water levels during rainfall, which flood the marsh basin and spread soil outward. Without soil, the marsh grass population would likely decrease due to lower nutrient density due to lack of soil. However, this soil movement does not appear to be removing soil from my environment. As observed in the watershed model, all water runs towards the marsh basin anyways, so the overflowing effect essentially spreads the soil out rather than takes it from one place to another. This may explain the current high density of plant life.
Soil texture has many applications in ecology. A plants niche is dependent on soil type and the various levels of water permeability, retention, and infiltration that various soil types exhibit. Issues in plant extinction and invasion could be solved by modifying soil texture to include or exclude certain plant’s specifications.
How does your soil’s texture aid or hinder water flow and the movement of nutrients?
My soil’s texture was silty clay loam. Since the particles are closer together than they would be for sand, the flow of water and nutrients is slower than it would be in sandy soil because there is less space between the particles for the water and nutrients to flow.
What types of organisms are in the area where you collected the soil?
There are flowers and grasses growing there. Squirrels, birds, worms, insects, rabbits, groundhogs, chipmunks, and sometimes deer are in the area too.
What effects do these organisms have on the soil’s qualities?
Worms assimilate atmospheric nitrogen into usable nitrogen for plants. Flowers and grass take up water and nutrients through their roots.
Is the soil you collected likely to be eroded?
Yes, when it rains, when animals dig into it, or walking over it can move it around.
How would its loss affect the current location?
Its loss would get rid of a place to live for many worms and insects, grass, and flowers. If the grass and the flowers are gone, they couldn’t be a food source for other organisms anymore either.
Where would it erode to in your site?
If the soil was eroded, it would probably be spread all around. It could either go uphill to the lawns near the area (which would take more energy and/or time to do), or downhill into the woods more.
How would its presence affect the location it moves to?
Wherever the soil moves too and accumulates at, it could make it harder for plants to grow in it and for organisms to move around in it (compared to the texture of the soil already there). This would happen because of how little space there is between the particles of soil.
As an ecologist why is it important to think about soil texture?
As an ecologist, it is important to think about soil texture because soil texture determines water and air flow underground. It is a major factor in determining the organisms that can live in the environment, and knowing where it would move to if eroded is helpful for figuring out how that area would be affected. Also, it’s important for ecologists to know what will happen to the area it is eroded from so they can predict how the area that lost the soil will respond to its loss.
Randall Bankhead demonstrates how the soil probe moves easily through the ground on his farm, indicating healthy soil at Bankhead Farm in Roscoe, Texas on March 29, 2021. Photo courtesy of NRCS Texas.
Watch the video on Bankhead Farm at youtu.be/Y82S00156Nk
a) This type of soil was loamy sand at this site.
b) The soil's texture doesn't help too much with retaining water and nutrients compared to even smaller sized soil.
c) Since I constantly net sweep for insects for my project, most of the organisms I found were beetles and true bugs.
d) The effects of these organisms are not clear but I think that they are indicators of many other organism that they eat (such as detritivores). If I am finding the predators then there must be much more other prey organisms that help break down the matter into soil.
e) I do not think the soil was eroded since I collected it on top of the hill (I would assume after the storm it would be what is left after erosion. I think most of the soil would erode down the hill to the ocean since it is very close to Ocean Beach. I am assuming that more nutrients have entered the ocean from looking at it today, and the affect it would have could be algae blooms.
f) As a ecologist, it is important to think about soil texture because you can examine how much nutrients and recycled in that ecosystem. From that you can determine the amount of life that the habitat can support.
Randall Bankhead is conducting a soil test on a field at Bankhead Farm in Roscoe, Texas, on March 29, 2021. Photo courtesy of NRCS Texas.
Watch the video on Bankhead Farm at youtu.be/Y82S00156Nk
1) I would say that because the soil was so thick it probably hinders the flow of the movement of nutrients. However, because it does have some grit to it it is probably better than if it was smoother meaning it is probably is denser. 2)Organisms in the area where the soil include a variety of plant life... grasses mostly, small plants..further away were trees, and animals like birds, bunnies, deer, and humans frequent the area. 3) I think that the organisms probably help to enrich the soil qualities...as most people know feces can be used as fertilizer so the larger animals probably help enrich the soil while the plants obviously use the nutrients to grow, also worms and things would help airate and loosen the soil helping the movement of nutrients. 4) I think the soil is likely to erode a little during heavy rain but overall its so dense that it probably doesn't erode much. If it did move it would possibly effect the type of plant life growing in the area and in the new area to where it moves if the soil in these areas became different.
Water moves through sand very quickly, as do nutrients. Sand is very grainy and easily allows water to flow through. Many types of organisms were in the area when I collected this sample. They included: bugs, caterpillars, worms, mushrooms, moss, grass, and several types of plants and trees. These organisms probably both add to soil quality and take away from soil nutrients. For example, I know that when certain worms leave their skin? it adds to the quality of the soil. However, there are a few plants around that drain the nutrients from the soil. I collected soil from several different areas so I don't believe that it will be eroded. If the soil is moved or taken away, organisms that balance the soil pH will die out in that area and it will also affect surrounding areas. If it is moved anywhere in my hometown the soil wont be affected because everything is sand.
I had to dig beneath leaf litter and organic debris to reach the soil, even then it was full of various sizes of organic matter.
1) The type of soil that I hypothesis to be at my site after doing the soil tests is Clay Loom:
a) The Moist Soil forms a ball: Not Sand
b) The Moist Ball does not break: Not a Loamy Sand
c) The Ribbon forms a 2.5 – 5cm ribbon: Clay Loom
2) The soil has some clay particles, allowing water and nutrients to be stored that plants can use to grow.
3) A lot of flowers grow in the area I collected soil. Some larger organisms, such as squirrels, birds, and insects, also live nearby.
4) Organisms such as plants living in the soil will use the resources stored in it to grow. The plants can also use their roots to better prevent erosion. Animals may excrete materials that the soil will absorb to become richer in quality.
5) The soil I sampled may be eroded, as it is not as heavy and dense as soil made entirely out of clay, but it is not as easily moved as soil made entirely of silt particles either. As a whole I don’t think the soil is in any danger of being completely eroded away. If the soil was lost then the habitat would find it harder to store resources to be used for organisms to live. It may have a positive effect on the location that is moves to, as it would be able to hold resources easier, but it may also cover up plants that are already in the location and kill them.
6) As an ecologist it is important to think about soil texture because it can be what determines what types of plants and other organisms can survive in the habitat. In the instance of agriculture, planting crops in an environment where the soil cannot support them by supplying them with the correct resources will prove fatal and be a huge waste of money.