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 **