Principles of Ag: Soil Science Notes and Activities

Soil 101
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Principles of Ag: Soil Science Notes and Activities

Unit Outline:

Understanding Soil Properties Notes

Understanding Soil Formation Notes and Understanding Soil Texture

Getting to Know the Textural Triangle

Soil Ribboning Experiment

Soil Profiles and Soil Color Notes

Creating an Edible Soil Sample Activity

Understanding Water Holding Ability Notes

Water Holding Ability Experiment

Soil Degradation and Erosion

Soil Research Project

Soil Exam

Soil Formation

What 5 Materials are involved in Soil Formation?

Material / What is it?

Types of Parent Material



.

Glacial Origins:

Loess
Outwash
Till
Alluvium

Bed Rock:

Organic Matter:

How Topography Affects Soil Development

How Organisms Affect Soil Development

Types of Weathering

Chemical Weathering / Physical Weathering

Weathering Causes Soil To……

How Climate Affects Soil Development:

Soil Texture

Defined:

3 Particles:

Soil Texture Affects:

2 Ways to determine Soil Texture:

Common Types of Soil Structures

Granular / Crumb / Platy / Prismatic
Massive / Columnar / Blocky / Single Grain

Activity 1: Determining Soil Texture Using the Textural Triangle: Activity Sheet 1

Activity 2: Determining Soil Texture by the Ribboning Method: Activity Sheet 2

Soil Profiles

Defined:

•Each layer of soil may be different from the rest in a physical or chemical way.

–The differences are developed from the interaction of such soil-forming factors as:

.

.

.

.

.

A Profile is studied at ______

A Soil Horizon

Layer / Description
O
A
B
C
R

How do soils within a soil profile change over time?

Soil Color

•What are physical features used to differentiate between soils?

1.

2.

3.

4.

What are the colors used to describe surface soils?

•Colors associated with surface soils are dependent on the amount of organic matter found in them.

•Colors may be classified as:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Organic Matter

1.

2.

3.

What colors are used to describe subsoil?

•Subsoil colors are associated with natural drainage of the soils.

•This is the drainage condition that existed when the soil was forming.

•Subsoil colors are classified as:

1.

2.

3.

What factors determine the color of subsoil?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

How do parent material, age, and slope affect the color of soil?

•In addition to organic matter and drainage, soil color may also be affected by other factors:

Age
Slope
Parent Material

Activity 1:

Draw a Soil Profile in the Box Below and Color it According to its Correct Colors!! Use the Markers if Necessary, Draw a line and Label all the different layers. Include plants on the surface, what is going on below the soil?

Layers

Activity 2: EDIBLE SOIL

Consider the different Soil layers and horizons you drew above. Consider things that may look like these layers- Think food!!!! You are going to create and edible soil sample. Using Clear Plastic Cups provided by Ms. Brown you are going to create a soil horizon in your cup made of foods you like!! Example: Crumbled Oreo cookies make a great organic Layer! Be Creative!! This is completely your project!!

When you are finished, draw lines on your cup to indicate the different layers, write in permanent marker on the cup what the layers are! List what foods you will use: ______

Rubric: / Potential Points / Grade Yourself / Ms. Brown Grade
All Layers are included / 10
Layers are distinct, easily determined between one another / 10
Layers are listed on the outside of the container! / 10
TOTAL / 30

Water Holding Ability

Moisture Holding Capacity:

What is available to the plants?

•Available soil moisture is the water in the soil that can be used by plants.

1.

2.

•Soil moisture tension is the force by which soil particles hold on to moisture.

How do we determine how much moisture the soil can hold?

•Moisture holding capacity is determined primarily by the soils texture.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Water Holding Capacity:

Available water holding capacity depends on:

1.

2.

How do you know figure the water holding capacity

Activity 3: Water Holding Experiment: See Activity Sheet 3

Understanding Soil Degradation

Soil Degradation is:

Soil Degradation Occurs From:

•Minimizing soil degradation is important in maintaining a good environment.

•Soil degradation results from:

–Construction

–Contamination

–Erosion

How can construction result in soil degradation?

What are the sources of contamination and how do they result in soil degradation?

What is soil erosion and how does it result in soil degradation?

Other Sources of Soil Degradation (Write 2 from each slide)

Activity 4: Soil Degradation Research

Part I: The Research: Using the Mini Lap Tops and Lab Research Soil Degradation and Soil Erosion. Let your imagination run! What aspect of soil erosion or soil pollution your research is up to you! Write 1/2 page on the importance of this issue. Why is it important? What is causing this to happen? What can we do to help? BE CREATIVE!!!

Part 2: The PSA

** Create a public service announcement on computer paper. Get the reader’s attention- make it bold and powerful. Make sure your reader understands the importance of this issue. Think of ads in magazines and papers- how do they get their readers attention? What makes you want to look at them?

1. Include 1 current event description as to how it affects agriculture____ /10 points
2. Include illustration for poster____/ 10 points
3. Call for Action is included for Public____/5 points
4. Poster is attractive, colorful, well thought out and well done. ____/5 points

TOTAL: ______/ 30 points