Soil Analysis LabPurpose:
1) To examine, discover, and compare the physical and chemical properties of soil.2) Discover whether your soil meet the requirements needed to grow broccoli.
Review Soil• Top layer of Earth’s surface• Soil is made up of minerals, organic matter, air,
and water.
Review Soil’s Importance
• Basis of life• Filters water• Water storage• Habitat
“Our soil is not just dirt, it is a factory where everything
needed to feed plants, animals and humans is being
made.”
Review Soil Formation
Review Topsoil
SETP 1: Collecting Soil: Materials• Soil samples can be collected in
school yard, garden, lawn, flower pot etc.
• Use clean trowel, spoon or dull knife to loosen soil
• Dig about 2 to 6 inches into topsoil
• Do not touch• Place about a cup into paper bag• Record location and name on
bag
Collecting Soil Procedures• Place name, location and date on
bag• Collect about 1 cup of soil• Let dry out (no need to seal bag)• Note any plant growing nearby
STEP 2: SOIL COLOR, ORAGNIC MATERIAL AND TEXTURE
The color, texture and materials in the soil can tell a lot about the soil
Soil Color
• Generally the darker the soil the better (more organic materials)
• Gives clues to soil origin
Soil Organic Material
• Very important part of soil
Soil Texture
STEP 3: Soil pH• Measure of
acid/base/neutral• Determines if
nutrients are available to plant
• Most prefer 6.0 to 6.8
Soil Nutrients• Minerals such as
Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorus
• Key to plant health• Fertilizers
(manure, man-made) add nutrients
How Plants Get Nutrients From Soil
• Extracted in solutions• Through Roots• pH too high/low
You are a farmer…the soil is your “factory”
STEP 4: Extracting Soil Nutrients• To test nutrients we
must first extract soil solution
• Use larger plastic tube• Follow directions• Will use this extraction
for rest of lab
Step 5: Nitrogen
• Key nutrient for plants
• Green leaves• Most common
nutrient• Broccoli needs high
levels
Step 6: Phosphorous
• Critical for root development
• Helps grow strong and produce flowers and fruit
• Broccoli needs high amounts
Step 7: Potassium
• Needed for new cell growth
• Whole plant needs it
• Without enough it grows slowly
• Broccoli needs high amounts
Conclusions/Sharing Data
Name Soil Sample Location Texture Result pH result Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium** Share your data with the class using the SMART Board **