Title of Study: To analyse and determine if the soil type and climate contributes to the

vegetation type grown, in Water Valley, St. Ann, Jamaica.

Statements of Purpose of Study

The main purpose of this study is to analyse the composition of soil at Water Valley,

St Ann, Jamaica to determine if the properties of soil contributes to the type of vegetation

grown.

The researcher saw this topic fit to study as there were endless investigations that

could be carried out under the topic and the topic was very familiar to the researcher as a

detailed study was done during the researchers’ studies. Lastly, this topic was deemed ideal

by the researcher as it had very close relations to the researchers’ prospective field of study as

an Environmental Scientist. As such the researcher seeks to clearly identify the following

objectives:

1. To identify and graphically represent the different horizons of the soil, present in the

selected area and investigate their properties.

2. To identify and describe the type of vegetation grown in the selected area.

3. To outline the impacts of the stated properties on the growth of vegetation on the soil

type.
 Methodology

On the 14th of February the researcher journeyed to Water Valley located in St Ann,

Jamaica where data was collected between the hours of 10:30 am to 1:30 pm.

The researcher was given a tour of the site by Mr Duane Edwards, a Data Analyst at

the Noranda Bauxite Limited. A soil profile was viewed by the researcher. The different

horizons of the soil profile were measured using a tape measure. Pictures of the soil profile

and the vegetation grown on the soil and the general area were taken to be analysed.

Samples of soil from each soil horizon were also collected and tested for their

different properties.

1. pH Test

 A spoonful of soil was placed on a white smooth surface

 The soil was sprinkled with barium sulphate

 Three drops of universal indicator was added on the areas of soil covered in

barium sulphate

 A colour chart was used to determine the soils pH.

2. Moisture Test

 A sample from each soil horizon was collected and weighed separately.

 The weight of each soil sample was recorded.

 The soil samples were placed in an oven set at 50 degrees Celsius overnight.

 The then dehydrated soil samples were weighed and the weight recorded.

3.
 At a later date the researcher made contact with a personnel at the Jamaica

Meteorological Office and was thus successfully able to attain pertinent data on the

climatic condition o

Observations were also made of the vegetation and the general area.

A Topographical and Aerial map was also accessed to show the area under study.

TABLE 1: A TABLE SHOWING THE PROPERTIES OF SOIL THAT WERE TESTED FOR

Horizon Depth Boundary Colour Texture Structure Moisture Biota

Location of Study
The area studied is represented on maps as shown below.
Presentation and Description of Data
 The data assessed from the site visit made along side the secondary data collected are

presented in forms as shown below.

Plate 4 above shows the soil profile observed by the researcher at Water Valley

located in St. Ann Jamaica. The picture was carefully analysed and a secondary diagram was

drawn to show the soil horizons as represented in plate 5.

 In plate 5 above the first layer represented on the soil profile is the top soil or horizon

A. This layer had a a depth of 2.2 feet. A thin layer of humus was observed on this horizon.

Below the top soil there is the sub soil or horizon B which was situated at a depth of______
feet. The last layer was the parent rock or horizon C, this horizon was located at a debth of

8.9 feet.

PLATE 6: PICTURES SHOWING SAMPLES OF SOIL COLLECTED FROM THE SOIL

HORIZONS

Soil sample collected from Horizon A

Soil sample collected from Horizon C

 From each horizon in the soil profile studied samples were taken as shown in the

diagram above. Varying tests were coonducted from consecutive experiments and the data

attained were represented in the table as shown below.

TABLE 2: A TABLE SHOWING THE PROPERTIES OF SOIL THAT WERE TESTED FOR

Horizon Depth Boundary Colour Texture Structure Moisture pH

(feet)

A 2.2 Dark 8
Brown

B Brown

C 8.9 White 11

Table 2 above shows the properties of soil that were tested for in each horizon sample.

The pH test was conducted and it was determined that Hori

 Discussion of Findings

Limestone is a sedimentary rock that is made up of more than 50% calcium carbonate.
 Appendix

Experiments conducted by the researc

Picture 1: pH test carried out on Horizon A

Picture 1: pH test carried out on Horizon C