Abiotic fators - Window farm

We used a microscope to examine our soil and water that collected in our Window Farm, we saw no living organisms but remnants of roots. 

Above are the microscopes we used to examine our soil and water

The mixture of water and soil to be place on the microscope to be viewed.

pH of our Soil Pictures

Using the Labdisc we measured the pH level of our soil and tap water of Lab B4

The pH probe in the soil to measure the pH we saw that our soil and water were both acidic and their results were very close.

Water Rentenion Capacity

Crucibles packed in a box just before they go off to be baked.

After the first bake in the oven the crucibles are measured.

After the second bake the crucibles were measured and the result was a loss in water

Water Retention Capacity

Practical: Water Retention Capacity

 

Aim: To determine how much water there is in two soil samples.

 

Materials Used:

20ml of soil sample 1
20ml of soil sample 2
measuring cylinders
2 crucibles
Spatulas
lab scales
Newspapers
Permanent markers


Loamy soil is a better choice for growing plants than sand as loamy soil can hold more water. This is because loamy soil is made up of organic material while sand is just rocks. This is a good study as it shows which soil to use for growing plants with a certain amount of water needed as to not drown or thirst the plant of water.
The Loamy soil would have more water because it is made up of organic material whereas the sand soil has small broken down rock particles.

Soil sample	Mass of Crucible	1st reading of mass of crucible and damp soil before heating	2nd reading mass of crucible and soil after heating	3rd reading of mass and crucible and soil after heating	Mass of water in the soil (difference between the starting and end mass)
1	13.1	38.3	35,6	34,7	21,6
2	12.5	25.8	24,2	23.3	10,8

The pH of our soil

Our soil's pH amount was 5.95. Normal tap water's pH amount is 6.18. We chose loamy soil as its pH amount is very close to water's, making it a good choice for growing plants in.

The Ambient Temperature and Light for the sunny side of the B4 laboratory

The Graph show a decline in the ambient temperature as this is only over the first 15 hours night would have fallen and the temperature would have descended.



The above graph shows the light which remained constant as this is also only over the first 15 hours there would not be much of a change.

How will the Abiotic factors influence our choice of Plants

The Laboratory has two side a light side which gets a lot of sunlight and a shady side. We chose to Plant basil a herb which requires a lot of sunlight and a rich Loamy soil. There were three different types of soil: Clay soil, Loamy soil and Sandy soil. the loamy soil has the best composition of water, air and nutrient for the plants to be sustainable.

Soil Classification

Sandy soil              Building sand

                                Particles  > 0.2mm in diameter.

                                Texture is coarse and gritty when rubbed between two fingers.

                                Particles are loosely arranged.

                                Soil is well aerated.

 

Loam soil               Garden soil

                                Particles of different sizes, usually between 0,02mm - 0.2mm.

                                Contains humus and dead organic matter.

                                Texture varies from fine clay to coarse sandy particles.

                                Sandy loam for example can be well aerated.

                                May contain variety of soil organisms, worms, fungi and bacteria.

                                Loam with a lot of silt can have a soapy feel.

 

Clay soil                 Bishops Pre-prep.

                                Particles are very fine, < 0.02mm.

                                Dense heavy soil.

                                When moist can be rolled into a sausage

 

Experienced soil scientists can classify soil just by rubbing it between their fingers!

Instructions:

• In this practical you are going to learn how to classify soil samples from three different sites, according to size and learn to feel different soil textures.
• Write down all observations you make in the space provided below.

Method: 

1. View your soil samples using a hand lens.
2. Observe the particle sizes according to the information on page 7 and 9 of the notes.
3. Observe any other characteristics regarding the soil type (organic matter content, aeration of soil).
4. Damp the soil with a few drops of water and feel the soil samples between your fingers.

Note down your observations on soil texture of the soil samples.

RESULTS:

 

1. Write down your observations on the soil texture of the 3 types of soil.

 

1. Soil sample 1

Loam soil – It has fairly large particles and a dark colour. It feel really rough and you can feel the different sized particles

 

2. Soil sample 2

The soil has little air cavities and the particles are packed closely together. It has a smooth texture when felt.

 

3. Soil sample 3

The soil has mainly one size particles and has no water retention capacity with air pockets. It is a ‘sandpaper’ type of texture and feel.

 

2. How would you classify (sandy, loamy or clay) Soil sample 1-3?

 

Soil sample 1 is Loamy

 

Soil sample 2 is Clay

 

Soil sample 3 is Sandy

 

Soil Classification

Clay soil - it has closely packed particles and little air when water is added.

Loamy soil - the best soil for our Window farm, contains all the correct nutrients and quantity of water and air.

Loamy soil - top
Sandy soil - middle
Clay soil - bottom

Sandy soil

Looking at Clay soil, the particles are closely packed together.

The different sized particles are more apparent through a magnifying glass. 

Soil Composition



Adding Water to the Test tube filled with Loamy soil.

The layers have separated out showing you the different particles.

Covering the test tube over with Cling rap to seal it off.

Soil Composition

 

Soil Composition

 

Loamy soil: is made up of a mixture of different types of soil particles.  It may be important for farmers and gardeners to know the exact percentage composition of each of these particles in a sample of soil.

 

Aim: To observe the composition of sand, clay and silt particles in a sample of loamy

         soil.

 

The materials we needed:

1.     1 large test tube or measuring cylinder with stoppers/plugs or plastic wrap. 2.     Test tube rack 3.     1 sample of loam soil 4.     spatula 5.     Water 6.     Ruler 7.     Permanent marker 8.     Beakers 9.     newspaper

 

The method we used:

1. Fill a clear test tube ¼ full of the loamy soil sample. Label test tube with your group name.
2. Fill the rest of the test tube ¾ (75%) with water right up to the brim.
3. Close the container with a stopper or plastic wrap.
4. Shake contents vigorously (by placing the palm of your hand firmly over the top of the test tube) ensuring that all the soil particles are mixed.  This breaks up the soil aggregates and separates the soil into individual soil particles.
5. Put the test tube in a rack where it will remain for 2-3 days and not be disturbed. Soil particles will then settle according to size with the larger particles settling first at the bottom.
6. Any gravel/small stones and sand will settle quickly and their depths can be marked on the test tube after approximately 1 minute.
7. Once sand has settled, clay will then settle on top and then if left long enough (until the water is reasonably clear) silt will eventually settle.
8. The time for this varies between soil samples and can take anything from 1 day to a couple of weeks.
9. The colour of the water will never be completely clear as salts and minerals have dissolved and are therefore always suspended.
10. Humus will float on the top.
11. The air layer at the top will give an indication of the air content in the soil sample.

 

 

Results:

 

           Test Tube :

a)    Sand layer thickness = 1.7 cm

 

b)    Clay layer thickness = 0.3  cm

 

c)     Silt layer thickness = 0.4  cm

CONCLUSION:

 

What does this practical tell you about the composition of your soil sample in terms of soil composition and particle size?

          

Loamy soil is made up of the correct nutrients, water and air. A perfect environment for plants to be sustainable. We will use Loamy soil in our Window Farm.

 

The Ambient Temperature and Light for the shady side of the B4 Laboratory

 

The Light measured in LX for the Shade side of lab B4

 

 

 

The Light remained constant throughout the whole experiment. As this is the shady side of the laboratory it would remain constant and at a low Lux level as there is no sun rays shining.

The Ambient Temperature for the Shade side of lab B4

The Temperature declined as progress into the night and then ascended during the midst of the day showing that it just over 30,75 Degrees Celsius.