First Lab Report : Sengkuang
First Lab Report : Sengkuang
Lecturer:
Mdm. Diana Demiyah Mohd Hamdan
Group Members :
Name
|
Matrix
Number
|
Angie Fan Yan Kai
|
BS17110476
|
Elavarasi A/P Kasirajan
|
BS17160663
|
Ng Jit Mun
|
BS17160693
|
Nielson Edward
|
BS17110462
|
Nurul Huda binti Ibrahim
|
BS17110437
|
Umi Najua binti Roslaily
|
BS17110319
|
1.0 1.0 Introduction
For Sengkuang, we are required to use same
type of soil for all the 5 pots. All pots are labelled A1,A2,A3,A4 and A5 and filled with soil which was collected from Bukit Kokol, Kota Kinabalu. A small portion of each soils is used to conduct pH test, soil texture as well as to determine its' dry mass. We were given 61 seeds in total. They were evenly distributed in all the pots (4 pots with 12 seeds while 1 pot with 13 seeds). We placed the pots at the open area so they are expose and receive the maximum amount of sunlight as well as rainwater. All the pots are being examined and the results are recorded.
Figure 1 : Pots labelled A1,A2,A3,A4 and A5
2.1 Materials
1.Yam Bean seeds
2.5 pots (poke same number of holes at the
bottom of the pot for drainage)
3.500ml recycle bottle (for watering)
4.One type of soil texture (can fill in 5
pots, one portion keep for lab analysis (record GPS soil sample location taken
can upload apps from smartphone)
5.Two recycle empty transparent bottle glass
jar for soil texture analysis (same size, smooth eve surface).
6.Two empty recycle tin can (same size), poke
same number of holes at the bottom of the can.
7.Three Recycle plastic container for air-dry
soil.
8.Four carton box size that can cover the pot
and plant. Exclude light.
9.Four twigs (about 50cm) for each pot and
rubber bands/ropes. Form trellis.
2.2 Procedures
2.2.1 Soil texture by jar
1. A
jar was filled with soil approximately 60% of the jar’s volume.
2. Water
was filled almost the whole volume of the jar.
3. The
jar was closed tightly.
4. The
jar was shake vigorously about 10 minutes and was left to settled out.
5. The
jaw was left undisturbed for 24 hours.
6. The separate layers was marked after jar
was left 24 hours.
7. Observation on the percentage of sand and
silt to clay of the soil was taken using the soil texture triangle.
2.2.2 Soil texture by feel
1. A
handful of soil was wetted with water until the soil start sticking together
without sticking onto the hand.
2. A
ball of 3cm diameter was made and observation of the ability of the soil to
stay in ball shape was taken.
3. The
ball was later shaped into a sausage shape around 7cm long and observation was
taken.
4. The
sausaged shape soil was the continued being rolled until it reach around 15cm
long and observation of sandy loam texture of soil was taken.
5. The
sausaged shape soil was then bend into a half circle and observation of loamy
texture was taken.
6. About
two tablespoons of soil was taken and water was added drop by drop until it
reached sticky consistency.
7. The
soil was then squeezed between thumb and forefinger to form a flat ribbon.
8. The
length of the ribbon formed without breaking and observation on type the
texture of the soil was observed.
2.2.3 Soil color Analysis
1. A
handful of soil was wetted with water .
2. The
wetted soil was then observed with the Munsell color chart under the
torchlight.
2.2.4 Soil
pH analysis
(i)
Portable
soil moisture meter
1. A
soil pH meter is buried in each pot of the plant and was left around 20
minutes. The reading was later recorded.
(ii)
pH
paper
1. A
few spoonful of soil was transferred into a beaker and the soil was mixed with
deionized water.
2. The
solution was then filtered into a folded filter paper that was place on a
funnel sitting on a test tube.
3. The
solution is filtered.
4. A
pH paper was dipped into the soil solution and was taken out after 5 minutes to
be observed the pH value.
(iii)
pH
meter
1. The
extra soil solution was then being observed with pH meter and the result was
recorded.
3.0
Results
3.1 Soil
color analysis
Soil sample
|
Value
|
Chroma
|
Hue (Yellow-Red)
|
Munsell color
|
Soil sample 1 ( Bukit Kokol , Kota
Kinabalu)
|
2.5
|
1
|
7.5YR
|
Black
|
The colour of the soil is usually the first
thing people notice . Mostly this is just the topsoil but it does not reflect
the entire soil . The topsoil is usually darker than lower layers because this
is where organic matter accumulates . Soil color originates mainly from organic
matter , iron mineralogy and moisture content ( Naoki Moritsuka , 2014) . Soil
organic matter and iron oxides contribute most to soil color . There are four
main factors that influence the color of a soil which is the organic matter
that contain in the soil , the mineral matter from the parent material ,
material content and the abundance of iron of the soil . Some of influential
colors of soil are white , red , brown and black . White indicates presence of
salt in the soil content , red indicates accumulation of iron oxide while brown
and black indicate the level and type of organic matter of the soil . Soil
color is determined using Munsell soil color chart . Soil samples is compared
with the color chips in the Munsell soil color charts . Color is expressed in
terms of hue , value and chroma . Soil color also a reflection of the soil age
, temperature and the moisture . Soil that is located at cooler regions tend to
have grayish to black topsoils , due to the accumulation of humus . In moist warm
regions , soils tend to be more yellowish-brown to red , depending on the
hydration of ferric oxide and extensive weathering of the soil's parental
mineral content .
3.2
Soil texture by feel analysis
(I)
Ribbon method
Three simple steps
along with the flow chart in Figure 2 will help you to determine soil texture
by feel.
 | |
|
Step 1: Start with a small handful of soil, about the size of a golf ball, and slowly add water a drop at a time, mixing as you go, until you have a ball of soil that has the consistency of putty. Gently squeeze the ball to determine if it will stay together in a ball or fall apart.
Step 2:
If the ball of soil stays intact, gently press the ball between your thumb and
index finger, trying to work it out to form a ribbon. If you can form a ribbon,
measure how long the ribbon is before it falls apart.
Step 3 : After completing the ribbon test, add water to a pinch of soil in the palm of your hand until you have a muddy puddle. Rub the mud puddle against your palm and determine if it feels gritty, smooth, or equally gritty and smooth.
Figure 2 : Flow chart of soil texture by feel.
Start with a small handful of soil (about the
size of a golf ball). Add water slowly, mixing as you go, until the soil
reaches a smooth, plastic consistency, like putty. Form the soil into a ball
and squeeze. If it does not fall apart, squeeze the ball between your thumb and
fore finger to form a ribbon until it breaks from its own weight. Record how
long is the ribbon before it breaks.
For our group, it formed 3cm. Later we
excessively wet a small pinch of soil and rub it against our palm. The he soil
does feel gritty. Therefore, it is a Sandy clay loam
|
(ii) Ball throwing Method
During the ball
throwing method, the ball shatters on impact when dry and clings together when
moist but does not stick to the target it has a medium texture. Therefore, it’s
a sandy clay loam.
(iii) Ball method
A handful of soil is
taken and a ball is formed. The soil we used for this test was stick together,
therefore, a sausage shape 6-7cm long is made. The sausage shape was remained.
Then, the sausage shape was rolled until it reaches 15-16 cm. But the soil does not remain in the shape.
Therefore, ball method estimates that the soil used to conduct this test is
sandy loam. Figure 4 and Figure 5explains the steps involved in ball
method.
 Figure 4 : A handful of soil is taken and a ball is formed 
Figure 5 :
A sausage shape 6-7cm long is made. If he sausage shape was remained, the sausage shape was rolled until it reaches 15-16 cm. But the soil does not remain in the shape.
3.3
Soil texture by jar analysis
Two ensure the accuracy of the soil, the test
was done for twice.
|
Calculation
3.4 Soil pH analysis
(i)
pH paper :
6
(ii)
pH meter
: 6.79
(iii)
Portable soil moisture meter
A1
- 6.82
A2
- 5.9
A3
- 6.6
A4
- 6.82
A5
- 6.9
Conclusion
In conclusion, the
type of soil used in the experiment is sandy clay loam soil. This has been
proven by the soil texture by feel analysis and also the soil texture by jar
analysis. Both the soil texture analysis indicate that the type of soil used in
the experiment is sandy clay loam soil. The soil color analysis showed that the
soil has a value of 2.5, chroma of 1, hue of 7.5YR and muncell colour is black.
Furthermore, the soil
pH analysis has shown that the soil is an acidic soil and therefore it is a
suitable for the Sengkuang seeds to grow.
References
Naoki Moritsuka . 2014 . Soil colour , environment , land and water .
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