Soil
and Agriculture:
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Agriculture and Soil
Introduction | Invitation | Exploration | Explanation | Taking Action | Conclusion
There are three minerals needed in order for crop growth to occur. These are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Various pH levels are needed to grow the different crops. Crops grow best in the pH range of 6 to 8.
In Lesson 2, you tested for pH as well as the beneficial minerals in the soil. Now you will plant seeds in your soil samples to find out how soil type effects the growing of plants.
Objective:
Students will determine how the various levels of minerals in the soil, as well as the pH of the soil, affect the growth of plants.
Materials:
- Soil samples from Lesson 2
- Sand, humus, potting soil, soil from home
- Radish seeds or other fast-germinating seeds
- 6 oz cups with holes for drainage
- Distilled water
- Thermometer for checking the temperature of the soil
Invitation:
Review why potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH are important to the soil. (Soil and Agriculture Module-Lesson 2).
Exploration:
- Put your name and the levels of potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH of the different soils on each cup.
- Poke a hole in the bottom of the cup to allow excess water to drain out when you water your plants.
- Fill 2 cups loosely with sand, 2 cups loosely with humus, 2 cups loosely with potting soil, and 2 cups loosely with soil from home. (These are the soils you tested in Lesson 2).
- Plant seeds according to the instructions on the package.
- Place the plants on a window sill so that they will receive sunlight. Turn the plants every few days so they will grow straight.
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Explanation:
Seeds contain the nutrients they need to begin their growth. After the seed sprouts, the plants need nutrients from the soil.
Observe your plants growing for three weeks. Compare your observations to your soil test results.
Record your observations and the plant growth in a chart in your classroom, and then send a summary of your findings to the Soil Database.
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Soil Sample |
Description of Soil |
Observations During Week 1 |
Observations During Week 2 |
Observations During Week 3 |
Summary |
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Taking Action:
Make posters showing the results of your exploration. Share these posters
with your classmates. Write a newspaper article using your results to
either your school newspaper or a local newspaper. If possible, take pictures
of your posters along with the students that created them. Send the pictures
to: Eco-Connections Project, % Walker County Science and Technology Center,
409 Pond Springs, Georgia 30707 USA.
Links
http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/soilsnssc