1. Use the soil triangle to determine the type of soils with the following particle sizes
a. 20% silt, 10% clay, 70% sand
sandy loam
b. 30% sand, 10% clay, 60% silt
silt loam
c. 10% silt, 50% sand, 40% clay
sandy clay
d. 30% clay, 30% sand, 40% silt
clay loam
e. 60% clay, 10% sand, 30% silt
clay
f. 40% sand, 10% silt, 50% clay
clay
2. List and describe three ways in which soil pH affects an ecosystem.
It affects the quality of plant growth, some plants have specific a pH to grow
It affects the amount of nutrients the soil has
It affects the water around it making it more acidic to
3.What types of vegetation does soil of the type and pH you sampled best support?
Our pH was 7 and the plants that grow best here are basic garden plants like blueberries
4. What would be the ideal type and pH of soil to have around a home?
The ideal type of oil to have at home is from 6.0 to 7.0
5. What would be the ideal type and pH of soil for agriculture?
The ideal soil pH for agriculture is from 5.5 to 7.0
6. How do farmers adjust the pH of soils?
They add limestone
A: Using the method described above, try to classify your soil as mostly sand, mostly silt or mostly clay. How did you classify your soil based on this “by
hand” method? What lead you to this conclusion?
We classified the soil for mostly sand, I was able to classify this by using the percentages of the soil pyramid
B: Now use the dichotomous key to classify your soil. What soil texture would you classify your sample based on this method?
I would classify the soil as loamy sand.
C: Do it again with the flow diagram- how would you classify your soil now?
I got the same loamy sand
D: Did your answers to all of the methods agree with each other? Why or why not?
Yes they did, they feel soft and is hard to keep it into a ball