ACTIVITY 2

SOIL CHARACTERISTICS

Soil characteristics are one of the most important environmental factors directly
affecting the structure of an ecosystem. Characteristics such as grain size, pH, redox
potential, water content and nutrient content (among marine ecosystems it is important
to note on the soil) are very valuable in assessing the productivity species composition
and distribution of the producers, consumers and decomposers of an ecosystem.

Materials:
1 kg sandy soil 3 beakers (250ml.) distilled water
1 kg clay soil 2 stirring rod pH meter
1 kg loam soil 1 graduated cylinder wash bottle
9 corn seed (100ml.) tissue paper
3 plastic pots 3 sieves (diff. meh size) masking tape
3 ice cream can cover 3 crucibles weighing balance
Soil sample 3 steel wool aluminum foil
Litter (method F) 3 vials chloroform/ether
Forceps alcohol-formalin dilution

Methodology:
A. Soil pH
1.) Stir 5 grams of fresh soil samples in separate beakers with 50ml of distilled
water.
2.) Determine the pH of the three soil samples separately using the pH meter.
B. Soil texture
1.) Air-dry the different soil samples for two days. Weigh 10 grams of each soil
samples and pulverize them.
2.) Pass each soil sample separately through a series of sieves, starting with the
one which has the largest mesh size to remove the biggest particles of the
sample.
3.) Weigh the soil particles that did not pass through the sieve. Those that passed
through will be sieve again using the sieve with a smaller size. Do this for the
other soil type.
4.) Determine the percentage composition of the different soil samples in terms
of sand, silt and clay.

C. Water content

Weigh 10 grams each of the air-dried soil samples. Place each in a crucible whose
weigh has been previously determined and place these in the oven at a
temperature of 105°C for one hour.

D. Organic matter content

1.) Use the soil samples which water has already been removed. Heat soil sample in
the furnace at 600°C for 1 hour.
2.) Weigh the soil samples after cooling. The loss in weight will be the amount of
oxidized organic matter.
3.) Compute the percentage of organic matter using this formula.

Initial wt. – final wt.

X 100
Initial wt.
E. Soil type and plant growth

1.) Weigh equal amounts of the 3 different soil samples and place them separately
in flowerpots of same kind and size.
2.) Plant 3 corn seeds in each pot. Sprinkle water in each and do it every day.
3.) When plants have already germinated, measure every other day the height of
the plants.
4.) After 10 days of germination, uproot the plants and remove the soil from the
roots.
5.) Determine the biomass of each potted plant. Get the average biomass for
each pot.
6.) Note that you must expose the plants to the same variables except for soil.

F. The soil inhabitants

1.) Collect samples of litter on the 3 types of soil and place them in separate clear
plastic bag (label).
2.) Also collect 500 grams of the 3 types of soil sample to a depth of 10 cm and
place them in separate plastic bag. Tightly fasten the plastic bags with rubber
bands.
3.) In the laboratory place a few drops of ether or chloroform in the bags
containing the litter. Close the bags tightly until 5 minutes then empty the
contents onto the table with white paper. Put it under a bright light and
carefully pick with forceps the entire organism you found on the litter. Put
the organisms you find into three small jars with alcohol-formalin dilution (5
ml alcohol, 5 ml formalin 90 ml distilled water). Identify and observe the soil
organisms using a stereomicroscope, illustrate and record all your data.
4.) Loosen each soil sample collected and place in the Berlese-Tulgren apparatus
(fig.1). the beat and the light from the bulb will force the small organisms to
crawl downward and fall into the preservative. Leave the Berlese-Tulgren
apparatus in operation undisturbed for two days. Observe, identify and
illustrate the soil organisms.
5.) Compare the data for the different soil types.
 25 v

Note: Since we won’t be able to perform the procedures, the values for the selected parameters are
already given. These values are taken from an actual experiment.
Date Performed: ______________ Score: ________
Date Submitted: ______________ Group No.____

Objectives:

DATA SHEET

Table: _____
Soil type pH Water content Organic content Average plant
(%) (%) biomass

Sandy 6.5 67 3.00 1

Clay 6.8 57 6.04 1
Loam 7.1 46 8.80 3

Table: _____
Soil type Percent composition Percent composition Percent composition
of sand particle of silt particles of clay particles

Sandy 96% NA NA
Clay 1.9 % 22.1% 73.8%
Loam 8.3 % 81.8 % 6.8 %

Note: Interpret the results and discuss.

Table: _____
Note: For this section, research on the organisms commonly found on the different soil type and include
in your results and discussion

Soil type Organisms found Characteristics

Sandy

Clay

Loam
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1.) How will the soil pH affect the composition of a community? Have the
conditions of the area where you got your soil samples anything to do with the
soil pH? What are the factors that affect soil pH?

2.) How will soil texture influence the water and nutrient content of the soil?

3.) Differentiate the amount of organic matter present in the 3 types of soil sample?
Does the environment in the area where you got your samples have anything to
do with the organic matter content of the soil?

4.) Which type of soil gave the highest plant biomass? The lowest biomass? Is there
any relation between the observed results and the soil properties you found in
the previous activities?

5.) Can you cite some adaptations that equip the soil animals that you have collected
to thrive in the different soil medium?

CONCLUSION:

REFERENCES: