Chapter 3

OBSERVATION, RESULTS & DISSCUSSION

3.1 Introduction
In this in coursework, ph. Value and soil testing for potassium was done on five different types of
soil. The experiment done shows that there is a relationship between the ph. value of the soil and
the concentration of potassium in the soil. The results were tabulated below and discussed.

Types Of Soil

pH. Value

Potassium, K

(A) Forest Soil 1

5.2

K1

(B) Forest Soil 2

8.5

K3

(C) Peat Soil

5.0

K4

(D) Swamp Soil

8.3

K1

(E) River Soil

6.6

K2

K4: Surplus
K3: Sufficient
K2: Adequate
K1: Deficient
K0: Depleted

Color

pH value againts type of soil

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Forest Soil 1

Forest Soil 2

Peat Soil

Swamp Soil

pH value againts type of soil

River Soil

INTERPRETATION & DISSCUSSION

The Potassium test is used to test for the concentration of potassium in the five different types of
soil. The five different types of soil were labelled and soil testing was performed. The change in
colour of the test show the concentration of the potassium in the soil. The higher the colour
intensity form in the test tube the higher the concentration of potassium the soil. The Ph. value
also shows that it is affected by the concentration of potassium in the soil.

Soil pH is defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the activity of the hydronium ions
in the soil. The pH value of the soil can range from -1 to 14, where 7 being neutral, less than 7 is
acidic and more than 7 is alkaline. The soil testing kit used in this experiment is to determine the
nutrient and contaminated substances that is found in the soil. Through the results, the potassium
is directly affecting the pH value of the soil as it reacts with the calcium and magnesium ions in
the soil when the pH value is alkaline and the phosphate ions reacts with the aluminum and iron
to form less soluble when the pH value is at acidic. However the high concentration of potassium
in the soil is suitable for agricultural industry as potassium is essential for plant growth.