Properties of Soil: Agriculture and Water Availability Impacts Laboratory
Properties of Soil: Agriculture and Water Availability Impacts Laboratory
[WLO: 2] [CLOs: 1, 3, 5]
Prior to beginning work on this assignment, read the Properties of Soil: Agricultural and Water Availability Impacts investigation manual Download Properties of Soil: Agricultural and Water Availability Impacts investigation manual. This lab enables you to analyze the natural porosity and particle size of soil samples along with the chemical composition and profile of different soil types.
The Process
Take the required photos and complete all parts of the lab assignment (calculations, data tables, etc.). Use the Lab Worksheet Download Lab Worksheetas a resource to complete the Lab Report Template Download Lab Report Template. Transfer any answers and visual elements from the Lab Worksheet into the Lab Report Template. You will submit the Lab Report Template through Waypoint in the classroom.
The Assignment
Make sure to complete all of the following items before submission:
Before you begin the assignment, read the Properties of Soil: Agricultural and Water Availability Impacts manual Download Properties of Soil: Agricultural and Water Availability Impacts manual; you may also wish to review SCI207 – The Scientific MethodLinks to an external site. presentation video.
Complete all activities using the materials that you supply. Photograph each activity following these instructions:
When taking lab photos, you need to include in each image a strip of paper with your name and the date clearly written on it.
Use the Lab Worksheet as a resource to complete the Lab Report Template.
Must use at least two credible sources outside of the textbook and lab manual.
Submit your completed “Lab Report” via Waypoint.
LAB WORKSHEET
Hypotheses:
Activity 1.
Activity 2.
Activity 3.
Activity 4.
Observations/Data Tables
Data Table 1. Particle Size Distribution and Soil Type
Depth of
Clay Layer
(cm)
Depth of
Silt Layer
(cm)
Depth of
Sand
Layer (cm)
Total
Depth
(cm)
%
Clay
%
Silt
%
Sand
Soil
Texture
Soil
Sample A
Data Table 2. Determination of Soil Porosity
Time Taken for First Drop to Emerge from Column (s)
Sand Sample
Clay Sample
Soil Sample A
continued on next page
Data Table 3. pH Comparison of Soil Samples
Soil Sample A Soil Sample B
(Location Description: )
pH
Data Table 4. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potash Comparison in Soil Samples
Nitrogen Phosphorus Potash
Soil Sample A
Soil Sample B
LAB REPORT TEMPLATE
Name of Lab
Your Name
SCI 207: Our Dependence Upon the Environment
Instructor’s Name
Date
2
*Use this template to write your lab report each week. Complete the sections below, pasting in
all completed data tables, graphs, and photographs where indicated. Before you submit your
report, run it through Turnitin using the student folder to safeguard against accidental plagiarism.
Please delete this text along with all other template instructions before submitting your report.
Title of Lab Goes Here
Introduction
Explain the lab topic background (not the lab itself), including the most important terms and
concepts that are covered in it. Why is the subject of this lab important? Use at least one credible
source other than the lab manual or textbook to write this section; cite the source(s) using APA
format. Your background paragraph should be at least 5-7 sentences, not including any quoted
material.
In a separate paragraph, state your hypotheses one at a time, in the order of the activities in the
lab. Provide at least one hypothesis for each lab activity. For each hypothesis, explain your
reasoning behind what you thought would happen. You should have written your hypotheses
before you conducted your experiments. Do not provide any results from the lab here – the
results go later in your report (see below).
Results
Data Tables and Observations
3
Copy and paste completed data tables here, in order. Make sure that each table is clearly labeled.
There should be data tables for all lab reports except Weeks Three and Four. For Week Three,
provide your observations from the lab here. For Week Four, there this section will be blank.
Graphs and Photographs
Paste your graphs here (Weeks One and Four only). Paste your photographs here (Weeks Two,
Three, and Five only), in the order they were taken during the lab. Provide captions for each
graph or photograph. Remember that all photos for the labs in Weeks Two, Three, and Five must
include a strip of paper with your name and the date clearly written on it. Lab reports without
photos will be returned ungraded. For the virtual labs (Weeks One and Four only), at least one
graph must be included in this section for the lab report to be evaluated.
Analysis
Based upon the results of each lab activity, explain whether you accepted or rejected each of
your hypotheses, and why.
In one or more well-written paragraphs: 1) Restate your original hypothesis for the lab activity;
2) Communicate the results of the lab, referring back to specific results from your data tables,
photos, graphs, or observations; 3) Compare your hypothesis to your results and decide either to
accept your hypothesis or to reject it; 4) State whether you accept your hypothesis or reject it and
explain with evidence; 5) Move on to the next hypothesis and repeat these steps.
Reminder: this section should be written in paragraph form, not as bulleted or numbered lists.
Discussion
In your own words, how do the results of this lab relate to the scientific literature and/or to real-
world applications? Using a source other than the lab manual or textbook, provide supporting
4
facts or concepts that help you make meaning of the lab results. Cite the source using APA
format. Your answer should be at least 5-7 substantive sentences in length, not including any
quoted material.
In a separate paragraph, what challenges and/or possible mistakes did you experience when
completing this lab? Identify at least one. How might those challenges and/or. mistakes have
impacted the accuracy of your results?
References
List the references that you cited in your report, in APA format and alphabetically by author’s
last name. If you did not cite the source somewhere in your paper, do not include it.
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