Soil Practicals

Soil Practical 1: Composition of Soil

Aim: to determine the composition of sand, silt and clay particles in sample of soil.

Method:

• Fill measuring cylinder with 25ml of soil sample
• Fill the same measuring cylinder with 75ml of water
• Rap the top of the exposed end of the cylinder with plastic, place hand upon the same end and proceed to shake mixture with two hands.

Results: Underway...

Soil Practical 2: Soil Classification and Texture:

Simi observing soil sample 1 with a hand lens.

Aim: to classify the type of soil that would be used for the Window Farm and to retain a better understanding of its texture and particle size

Method: 

• Classify soil sample(s) and texture by utilising a hand lens. If further assistance is required, make referencing to a flow chart diagram.

Results:

• Our soil sample 1 was very gritty and had bits of rocks and leaves in it was and soil sample 2 was extremely fine-textured to touch - even clayey like.
• We classified soil sample 1 as clay soil and soil sample 2 as loam soil.

Soil Practical 3: Water Retention of Soil

Aim: to determine the water retention capacity of soil.

Soil is slowly releasing water.
Photo via @Ollie Kane-Smith (Chai in the Sky)

Method: 

• Line conical flask with filter paper
• Place lined flask into a beaker
• Measure out 100ml of soil sample 1, with a measuring cylinder, and place it into the lined flask.
• Measure out 100ml of water, with a measuring cylinder, and pour it into the funnel.
• Wait for 5 minutes, then record results.
• Repeat the process for soil sample 2.

Results:

• 
  

  Soil sample	Mass of soil (cm3 or g)	Amount of water that drained into glass beaker (ml)	Amount of water retained by the soil (ml)
  1  Loam Soil	100g	50	50
  2  River Sand	100g	70	30

Group Insight: 

We all believe that our loam soil is ideally suitable for growing vegetables in our window garden as the loam soil retains and drains water very well. This will be good to help the seedlings absorb the immense nutrients in the soil. 

"I think that we worked well in the practicals because we were all eager to do well and we made no excuses to do extra work."

" I think that our group should focus on work more and realise the importance of work, which will restrict us from getting distracted."

- Simi Mehlomakulu.

"I believe that we worked well in the practicals because we are all friends and don't want to let each other down by not working well."

"To stop our friendship from getting in the way of our academics, which will definitely be a time-saver and would help us reach our potential."

- Euan Groenewald.

"I believe that our group collaborated well as we played with everyone's best interests. Everybody did what they wanted to do, resulting in a better efficiency of completed work."
"I suppose that we should use our time more wisely and stop wasting time. Next time, we will ensure that nobody messes around on their electronic devices so that no extra time will be wasted."

- Jay Sinha.

"I believe we worked well as everybody participated in the practicals and contributed towards the answers on the recording sheet."
"Perhaps, the further allocation of job assignments would have been a more efficient time-save. For instance: Josh and Simi do the practical work, while Euan and Jay focus on jotting them down on a piece of paper or typing them on a laptop."

- Josh Seymour.

Edited by Jay Sinha