AGSL 1000 SOIL LAB - SOIL COLOUR Objectives 1.

Define and understand the meaning of the terms hue, value, and chroma. 2. Use the Munsell book of colour to determine the Munsell colour notations and colour names for moist and dry samples. 3. Identify the soil constituents responsible for soil colour. 4. Explain how colour relates to soil organic matter and drainage. Materials 1. Munsell colour book 2. Soil (air dried) 3. Distilled water Methods 1. Select some soil from the samples provided. 2. Position yourself so that diffuse light comes over shoulder. 3. Select a page from the Munsell colour book that contains colours that most closely match your sample. 4. Place the clear plastic page over the colour chips. This prevents the colour chips and paper from being soiled. 5. Find the colour chip that gives the best match with the colour of the soil. 6. Record the Munsell colour notation and the soil colour name in your lab book. 7. Carefully moisten the soil with water (do not saturate). No free water should be visible on the soil surface. 8. Repeat steps 2 through 6 with the moisten soil. 9. Repeat all steps until you have described all samples. Results 1. Record the dry and moist Munsell colour notation and colour names from the soil samples. 2. Make educated guesses pertaining to where these samples were taken, soil organic matter content, drainage, and aeration status. 3. Compare your educated guesses with classmates. Discussion 1. Name the major sources of colour in soils. 2. Explain the relationship between drainage and colour in surface and subsurface soils (i.e., describe colours of well- and poorly-drained surface and subsoils). 3. Which of the three colour notations is most impacted by wetting?