Soil Testing and Chemical and Physical Properties of Soil - Lab Report Example

The soil experiment in this essay aimed at analyzing or testing two different types of soils based on the characteristics including texture, color, and levels of pH or acidity, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen as well as Potassium.
Hypothesis: different soil samples obtained from different sites usually portray different chemical and physical properties.

Strategies of the Experiment
Two different soil samples were to be obtained from different sites including soil samples collected from flat land covered by grass (Sample ID: NAltarki-2) and soil samples collect away from any environmental barrier (Sample ID: NAltarki-1). The collected data are to be subjected to the same soil testing with the sample parameters including texture, color, and levels of pH, Phosphorus, Nitrogen, and Potassium. Differences in quantities of these parameters will be a clear indication that soil samples obtained from different environmental settings usually have different physical and chemical properties.

Data and Data Analysis
Two different soil samples were collected for the soil testing experiment and the results obtained from each sample are tabulated in the tables below.
Two different soil samples from different environmental settings were collected for the experiment. From the data provided in the tables above (1 and 2), there are clear indications that these two soil samples have different physical and chemical properties. For the physical properties, these samples have different textures; thus, they are identified as different soil types. For perfect comparisons, the two data tables can be merged into one. From Table 3 below, sample one tested to be Silky Clay loam while sample two was sandy loam in texture. For the color sample one showed 4 and 2 while sample two indicated 3 and 2 on the soil color value and soil color Chroma respectively. From the soil color sheet, both samples indicated they were within the same year range of 10 years.


The chemical properties of these samples are related to the amounts of pH, Phosphorus, Nitrogen, and potassium. Notably, with the same chemical properties, both samples had the same pH, Nitrogen, and Potassium values that were at 7, L, and H respectively. However, these samples had different phosphorus contents with sample one recording L levels while sample two recording M levels of phosphorus.

Graph 1: Showing the degree of similarities between the soil samples under study

Testing the Hypothesis
Notably, the study’s hypothesis stated that different soil samples obtained from different sites usually portray different chemical and physical properties. From the tabulated results, it is clear that this hypothesis is true. However, it may be stated that it only holds to certain levels since apparently, some of the properties of these soil samples are similar to a greater extent. Nonetheless, there will be a need to change the hypothesis.

Conclusion
Soil testing is quite vital in determining different but actual chemical and physical properties of soil. These determinations are usually fundamental for agricultural activities since they help the soil users to determine the fertility or contamination levels of the soil under study. Notably, potential soil toxicities and nutrient deficiencies usually alter the known physical and chemical characteristics of the soil; therefore, the determination of these properties will lead the soil or land users to apply appropriate corrective measures to their soil or land. Read More