Soil+Test+Project

Derek Taylor, Nicole Brack and Anxhela Zylyftari

This is a little overview of our project. We did two types of experiments, in the first experiment we tested the pH of the soil near the pond and the soil inland to see which is more acidic. The second experiment was to see which soil had the highest levels of nitrogen.
 * The Soil Reaserch Project**

Our hypothesis of this experiment is that the pH of the soil near the water would be closer to neutral than the pH of the soil closer inland due to the fact that the pH of water is 7 and since there is a good amount of water compared to land surrounding it, it should effect the pH pretty greatly while the pH of the soil inland is slightly acidic. Our second hypothesis is that the nitrogen level of the soil on the edge of the water will be greater than the soil inland because the water naturally has a higher level than the soil that is further way from the water.

The procedure and methods we used was we used the soil test kit were provided by Mr. Trossello which consisted of us retrieving soil from the sites and using a pH indicator to determine the pH of the samples. We also used a nitrogen test kit to determine the nitrogen levels of the samples. After the results became clear we learned that the pH of the soil inland was slightly more acidic than the soil near the water. In the next test nitrogen level of the soil near the water and the soil inland was the same. Both of these results proved our hypothesis correct.

Soil Quality Data Sheet School: Brook Farm Academy Site: Behind the School Group or Individual: Derek, Nicole, Anxhela City: West Roxbury Number of Soil monitors: 3 County, State: Suffolk County Date: 4/13/09 (mm/dd/yyyy) Sampling Time: 12:08 Pm Weather: Clear, other: Cold Rain in the last 24 Hours: No Wind: light

Physical Observations: Was the soil taken from underneath a tree or bush? ---Yes, a tree What was on the surface of the ground? --- Pine needles and Grass How moist was the soil? --- Moist and Wet How compacted was the soil? ---Somewhat compacted

Possible Soil Quality Tests: Soil temperature……….Pond: 9.7 ·C Land: 4.5 ·C Nitrogen………..Pond: Trace Land: Trace pH………..Pond: 6.0 L

After the results became clear we learned that the pH of the soil inland was slightly more acidic than the soil near the water. In the next test nitrogen level of the soil near the water and the soil inland was the same. Both of these results proved our hypothesis correct. and:7.0

In conclusion our prediction was correct. It seems that the pH of the soil near the water was closer to being neutral than the pH of the soil inland. As we said before we believe this is so because of the water having a pH of 7 which would allow the pH of the soil near the water to be closer to neutral than the soil inland The second half of our experiment was correct as well. The nitrogen levels of the soil near the water were the same as the levels shown in the soil closer inland. Again we thought this to be so because not only does the water have a good amount of nitrogen but the soil inland as well. The soil inland had the same level due to the plants that grow in the area because without nitrogen the plants won’t survive so they contribute to the nitrogen levels in the soil. The data didn’t seem to change very much so we say that the data from the tests that we took were very consistent. The test site we conducted this was at the pond to the rear of the school. This proved to be a very nice place to do this experiment for the fact that we had everything we needed in such a close area.