Second Lab Report: JAGUNG PANDAN
Title: Soil pH, Moisture and Water Holding Capacity
Lecturer: Dr. Diana Demiyah Mohd Hamdan
Date of Submission: 3rd April 2018
Lecturer: Dr. Diana Demiyah Mohd Hamdan
Date of Submission: 3rd April 2018
NAME
|
MATRIC
NUMBER
|
PAVITRA
A/P MURUGAYAH
|
BS17160700
|
NURUL
NATASYAH BINTI KANAPIA@HANAFIAH
|
BS17110546
|
KONG
WAN LING
|
BS17110429
|
NURFATIN
SOFEA BINTI MOHD HELMI
|
BS17110574
|
SOW
XIAO HUI
|
BS17110464
|
AARON
CHIN VUI CHANG
|
BS17160670
|
Soil pH
1.0 Introduction
Depending upon the
environment, there come out with a wide variety of soil types. Some soils have
characteristics that make them different, meaning that they are able to grow
crops well. One of the characteristics that determine a soil’s ability to grow crops
include soil pH. Soil pH is the acidity and the alkalinity of a soil. In this
case, soil pH affects the availability of nutrients to plants (Gregory Bugbee,
2000). A pH is a measurement of the concentration of the hydrogen ion and its
range is from 0 to 14. The neutral of the pH is 7 while the below 7 is acidic
and the above 7 is alkaline. Most plants prefer a soil that have pH from 6.5 to
7.5. For example, the soil that was tested in this lab experiment was mangrove
soil, mountain soil, lake of Residential College E soil, FSSA soil and sandy
soil.
2.0 Objective
The purpose of this
lab experiment is to find the suitable soil that can planted the plant. The
level of productivity of each soil type will be tested by planting jagung
pandan seeds in each soil. Besides, this lab experiment was to investigate the
acidity or alkalinity status of soil. Furthermore, we as student also need to
know appreciate the natural characteristics of soil as well as provide an
understanding of how to use the materials on finding the pH of soil.
3.0 Apparatus
and materials
Five different type of soil
Filter paper
Funnel
Spatula
Glass rod
Test tube
Beaker
Distilled water
Dropper
pH paper booklet
pH meter
pH and moisture meter
4.0 Procedure
1. A
few spoonful of five different soils were transferred into five different
beakers. The solution mixed with deionised water was stirred.
2. The
solution was filtered into a folded filter paper which place on a funnel
sitting on a test tube.
3. The filtered solutions were test on soil pH
test using three different method.
4.1 Using
pH paper
1. A piece of pH paper was took from the booklet
pH.
2. The pH paper was dipped into the filtered
solution.
3. The wet pH paper was wait some time to dry off.
4. The colour changed was observed and compare
with booklet pH.
5. The colour changed was recorded.
4.2 Using
pH meter
1. The
electrode of the pH meter was placed in the filtered solution. The “measure” or
calibrate button was pressed to begin reading the pH.
2. The
pH was allowed to stabilize before setting by letting it sit for approximately
1-2 minutes.
3. Once
had a stable reading which the word of “ready” been show out, the result was
recorded.
4. The electrode was rinsed with distilled water.
5. Procedure 1 until 4 were repeated by using
another four different filtered solutions.
4.3 Using
pH and moisture meter
1. The pH and moisture meter was inserted into the
soil.
2. The reading of pH and moisture meter was taken
as the reading been stable.
3. The procedures were repeated to get three
readings on each of soils.
4. The average of the reading was calculated.
5. Procedure 1 until 4 were repeated with another
four soils.
5.0 Result
5.1 pH
paper
Table 1.0: The pH on filtered solution using pH paper
Filtered solution of soil
|
Results (pH)
|
Mangrove
|
5
|
Sandy
|
4
|
Lake of Residential College E
|
5
|
Mountain
|
4
|
FSSA
|
4
|
Figure 1.0: The pH on filtered solution using pH
paper
5.2 pH
meter
Table 2.0: The pH on filtered solution using pH
meter
Filtered solution of soil
|
Results (pH)
|
Mangrove
|
5.08
|
Sandy
|
5.42
|
Lake of
Residential college E
|
6.23
|
Mangrove
|
5.52
|
FSSA
|
5.84
|
Figure 2.0: The pH on filtered solution
using pH meter (Mangrove)
Figure 3.0: The pH on filtered solution
using pH meter (Sandy)
Figure 4.0: The pH on filtered solution
using pH meter (Lake of Residential College E)
Figure 5.0: The pH on filtered solution
using pH meter (Mountain)
Figure 6.0: The pH on filtered solution
using pH meter (FSSA)
5.3 pH
and moisture meter
Table 3.0: The pH on soil using pH and moisture meter
Type of soil
|
Reading 1
(pH)
|
Reading 2
(pH)
|
Reading 3
(pH)
|
Average reading
(pH)
|
Mangrove
|
4.6
|
5.1
|
5.4
|
5.0
|
Sandy
|
6.8
|
7.0
|
6.8
|
6.9
|
Lake of
Residential college E
|
5.1
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
5.7
|
Mountain
|
6.6
|
6.6
|
6.6
|
6.6
|
FSSA
|
6.0
|
5.8
|
6.0
|
5.9
|
Figure 7.0: The pH on soil using pH and
moisture meter (Mangrove)
Figure 7.0: The pH on soil using pH and
moisture meter (Mangrove)
Figure 9.0: The pH on soil using pH and
moisture meter (Lake of Residential College E)
Figure 10.0: The pH
on soil using pH and moisture meter (Mountain)
Figure 11.0: The pH on soil using pH and moisture meter (FSSA)
6.0 Discussion
Based
on the result from soil pH paper, mostly the soil is under pH 7 which can be
determined that the Mangrove soil and Lake of Residential college E soil which
have pH 5. According to Ross H. McKenzie, the research scientist on Soil
Fertility and crop nutrition in Canada, this such value indicate that the
soil is strongly acid which its table have been reveal as below.
Table 4.0: Soil pH and Interpretation
Source: Alberta
Agriculture and Forestry,2003
Besides,
Sandy soil, Mountain soil and FSSA soil have the lesser value which oh pH 4.
Low pH soils (<6.0) results in an increase in Aluminium. Aluminium is the
toxic to plant and this may cause the plant to die due to toxicity. However,
FSSA soil and the sandy soil have the greater growth of Jagung Pandan than
others. According to Royal Horticultural Society, United Kingdom, in this such
condition most plant nutrients, particularly calcium, potassium, magnesium and
copper, become more soluble under very acid conditions and are easily washed
away. Most phosphates are locked up and unavailable to plants below pH 5.1,
although some acid tolerant plants can utilise aluminium phosphate. Acid sandy
soils are often deficient in trace elements. Thus, from here we may conclude
that sometime the pH paper may not very suitable to determine the pH of soil
due to the surrounding factors such as the pH paper may contact with the other
materials before using it.
Therefore,
pH meter and pH and moisture meter had been used. According to the pH meter and
pH and moisture meter, the most greener and taller plant indicates the values
of 6.23 and 5.7 respectively which been recorded by Lake of Residential college
E soil show that plants are increasing in height from day to day. This is
because in general the optimal pH value is between 5.5-7.5 while an ideal is
6.5-7.5 which 6.23 is nearly an ideal pH soil while 5.7 is in the general
optimal pH value. According to Royal Horticultural Society, United
Kingdom, moderately acid soil which is pH 6.1-7.0 is the best general
purpose pH for gardens, allowing a wide range of plants to grow, except
lime-hating plants. The availability of major nutrients is at its highest and
bacterial as well as earthworm activity is optimum at this pH.
However,
Mangrove soil do not support any growth of plants as a prove of pH of 5.08 and
5.0 using pH meter and pH and moisture meter respectively. This is because,
generally mangrove soils were higher in clay, organic matter, cation exchange
capacity, aluminium, sulphate, iron and exchangeable bases than the
non-mangrove soil. On the basis of exchangeable sodium percentage and
electrical conductivity the mangrove soils were classified as saline sodic
(G.Naidoo,F.Raiman,1982).
Using
pH meter and pH and moisture meter, sandy soil recorded pH of 5.42 and 6.9
respectively which is in the optimal pH value between 5.5-7.5 allow the plant
to grow but not fertile as the plant in Lake of Residential college E soil.
Although easy to cultivate and work, sandy soils dry out quickly and are
low in nutrients. When gardening on sandy soil it is important to
select plants that will be happy in dry and infertile soils (G.Naidoo,F.Raiman,1982).
7.0 Conclusion
In
conclusion, soil pH does play a role in nutrient availability. We should be
concerned on our crop and just be more aware than concerned. This is because,
recent years have shown the pH decline occurring more rapidly in continuously
cropped, direct-seeded land. On the other hand, seepage of alkaline salts can
raise the pH above the optimum range. So, a soil with an optimum pH today may
be too acid or alkaline a decade from now, depending on producer land
management.
8.0 References
Plaster, E. J. 1996.
Soil Science and Management. 3rd ed. Albany: Delmar Publishers
Soil: Understanding
PH and Testing Soil, The Royal Horticultural Society, 2018, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022461816301553 viewed
24 March 2018.
South African Journal of
Botany, Some physical
and chemical properties of mangrove soils at Sipingo and Mgeni, Natal, G.Naidoo and F.Raiman,1982, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022461816301553 viewed 24 March 2018.
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Soil PH Experiment,
Gregory Bugbee and Michael Cavadini,1875,
http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/special_features/soil_ph_test_experiment.pdf viewed 24 March 2018.
Soil Moisture
1.0 Introduction
Soil moisture is difficult to define
because it means different things in disciplines. For example, a farmer’s
concept of soil moisture is different from that of a water resource manager or
a weather forecaster. Generally, soil moisture is the water that is held in the
spaces between soil particles. Surface soil moisture is the water that is in
upper 10 cm of soil, whereas root zone soil moisture is the water that
available to plants, which is generally considered to be in upper 200 cm of
soil.
Compared to other component of the
hydrologic cycle, the volume of soil moisture is small, nonetheless it is
fundamental to many hydrological, biological and biochemical processes. Soil
moisture information is valuable to a wide range of government agencies and
private companies. This is because they are concerned with weather and climate,
runoff potential, flood control, soil erosion, slope failure, reservoir
management, geotechnical engineering and water quality. Soil moisture is a key
variable in controlling the exchange of water and heat energy between the land
surface and the atmosphere through evaporation and plant transpiration. As a
result, soil moisture plays an important role in the development of weather
pattern and the production of precipitation. Simulations with numerical weather
prediction models have shown improved characterizations of surface of oil
moisture, vegetation and temperature can lead to significant forecast
improvements. Soil moisture also strongly affect the amount of precipitation
that runs off into nearby streams and rivers. Soil moisture information can be
used for reservoir management, early warning of droughts, irrigation scheduling
and crop yield forecasting.
Soil water holding capacity is a term
that all farms should know to optimize crop production. Simply defined soil
water holding capacity, is the amount of the water that given soil can hold for
the crop use. One of the main function of soil is to plant between rainfalls or
irrigations. Evaporation from the soil surface, transpiration by plants and
deep perlocation combine to reduce soil moisture status between water
applications. If the water content becomes too low, plants stresses. The
available plant moisture storage capacity of a soil provides a buffer which
determines a plant’s capacity to withstand dry spells. The amount of soil water
available to plants is governed by depth of soil that roots can explore and the
nature of the soil material because the total and available moisture storage
capacities are linked to porosity, particles sizes and the arrangement of
particle. Organic matter, carbonate levels and stone content also affect
moisture storage. Poor structure, low organic matter, low carbonate content and
presence of stones reduce the moisture storage capacity of a given texture
class.
2.0 Objective
The objective of this experiment is
to determine soil moisture that is suitable for jagung pandan and to determine water holding capacity for each soil
so that we know the capability of water which is suitable for jagung pandan.
3.0 Apparatus and Material
Apparatus
|
Material
|
Electric balance
|
Water
|
Tins
|
Soil
|
Petri Dish
|
Filter paper
|
Measure pH and moisture tool
|
4.0 Procedure
Soil Moisture
- The soil
moisture of jagung pandan is checked
by using portable soil moisture tool before the plant was watered.
- The soil
was inserted in the oven only if the soil was not completely dried, using
the previous method which was to heat up till 80 degree Celcius for an
hour.
- When the soil was completely dried, the soil was weighed. The readings were recorded.
Soil Water
Holding Capacity
- 5 filter
papers are took and placed them at the bottom of the 5 tin cans.
- The tins
along with the filter papers were weighed.
- The same
volume from each type of soils were took and transferred them into the
tins cans.
- The soil
was pressed gently as compact as possible until a uniform layer on top.
- Tin cans
together with the soil were weighed and recorded.
- By using
the cut to support the tin to float in contact with water, water was
poured into the can.
- The soil
was left undisturbed until the soil become moist or wet.
- After
the soil became moist, the dripping water was wiped from the bottom of tin
cans before they were weighed.
5.0 Result
Soil
Moisture
Table 1.0: Result of Soil Moisture
Soil
|
Moisture
|
Mountain Soil
|
Figure 1.0 shows the result of moisture (2)
|
Sandy Soil
|
Figure 2.0 shows the result of moisture (1.5)
|
Mangrove Soil
|
Figure 3.0 shows the result of moisture (3)
|
FSSA Soil
|
Figure 4.0 shows the result of moisture (4)
|
Lake of Residential College E Soil
|
Figure 5.0 shows the result of moisture (3.5)
|
Table 1.0: Weight of Air-dried Soil
Type of
Soil
|
(Before
Air-dried) Weight of Soil/g
|
(After
Air-dried) Weight of Soil/g
|
Mountain
|
100
|
80.5
|
Sandy
|
100
|
97.1
|
Mangrove
|
100
|
67.6
|
FSSA
|
100
|
86.7
|
Lake of
Residential College E
|
100
|
86.3
|
Table 2.0: Percentage of Soil Moisture
Type of
Soil
|
(Before
Air-dried)
Weight of Soil/g |
(After
Air-dried) Weight of Soil/g
|
Percentage
of Soil Structure (%)
|
Mountain
|
100.0
|
80.5
|
19.5
|
Sandy
|
100.0
|
97.1
|
3.0
|
Mangrove
|
100.0
|
67.6
|
13.3
|
FSSA
|
100.0
|
86.7
|
13.7
|
Lake of
Residential College E
|
100.0
|
86.3
|
32.4
|
By using this formula:
Water
Holding Capacity
Table 3.0: Result of Water Holding Capacity
Soil Sample
|
Weight
of tin+ filter paper, g
|
Weight
of tin+ Filter paper+ Soil sample (B), g
|
Weight
of tin+ Filter paper+ wet soil (D), g
|
Weight
of Dry soil B-A=C, g
|
Weight
of wet soil D-A=E, g
|
Mass of
water absorbed by Soil E-C=N, g
|
Percentage
of Water Holding Capacity, %
|
Mountain Soil
|
10.1
|
326.9
|
394.6
|
326.8
|
384.8
|
68.0
|
20.8
|
Sandy Soil
|
10.1
|
205.5
|
245.3
|
195.4
|
235.2
|
39.8
|
16.9
|
Mangrove Soil
|
10.1
|
151.3
|
206.6
|
141.2
|
196.5
|
55.3
|
28.1
|
FSSA Soil
|
10.3
|
188.9
|
247.08
|
178.6
|
236.8
|
58.2
|
24.6
|
Lake of Residential College E
Soil
|
10.2
|
174.1
|
231.3
|
163.9
|
221.1
|
57.2
|
25.9
|
We calculate the percentage of water
capacity by using this formula:
N= Mass of Water Absorbed by Soil
N= Mass of Water Absorbed by Soil
E= Weight of Wet Soil
Figure 6.0: Set up Apparatus of Water Holding Capacity
6.0 Discussion
Soil Moisture
Soil moisture measurement in agricultural
sector settings provide important information through early warning. The upper
200 centimetres of soils is classified as the “root zone soil moisture” and
important from describing the water that is available to plants. When drought
occurs, there is a deficit amount of moisture in the root zone and consequently
crop productivity diminishes. Having continuous soil moisture and irrigation
planning. Soil moisture measurement also important for predicting floods. By
assessing how wet the soil is before a rainstorm, we can predict the potential
for flooding to occur.
Our group used pH moisture meter to
observe the moisture of each soil. We have five types of soil which is mountain
soil, sandy soil, mangrove soil, FSSA soil and lake of Residential College E
soil. The mountain soil recorded soil moisture is 2 while sandy soil recorded
1.5 soil moisture. While the soil moisture of mangrove soil and lake of
Residential College E soil is recorded 3 and 3.5 respectively. The soil
moisture of FSSA soil is recorded as 4. Based on our observation, the most
suitable moisture soil for jagung pandan
is lake of Residential College E because it is not too dry or too moist for jagung pandan.
Other test for soil moisture is air-dried.
First test, we dried it as naturally way which is put it outside at an open
place for a week. Each soil we take 100g sample. After 1 week the soil showed
decrease weight as the water inside the soil is lose or evaporated. But we
forget to put in oven to make sure that soil totally dried. So the result is
not really accurate but this can be used.
The percentage of soil moisture
showed that mangrove recorded the highest of percentage soil moisture which is
32.3%. Mangrove is the most moisture and not suitable for growth the jagung pandan. After that mountain soil is recorded as the second highest 19.5% and
it still not suitable for the jagung
pandan. FSSA soil and lake of Residential College E soil is suitable for
the growth of jagung pandan based on
our observation it growth very well on FSSA soil and lake of Residential
College E soil which is the percentage moisture is 13.7% and 13.3% respectively
whereas sandy soil is recorded the lowest percentage of moisture which is 3.0%
this type of soil can give a growth of jagung
pandan very well but not good as lake of Residential College E soil and
FSSA soil.
Water Holding Capacity
Soils that hold generous amount of
water less subject to leaching losses of nutrient or soil applied pesticides. This
is true because a soil with a limited water holding capacity reaches the
saturation point much sooner than a soil with a high water holding capacity. After
soil is saturated with water, all the excess water and some of the nutrient and
pesticides that are in the soil solution are leached downward in the soil
profile. Soil water holding capacity is controlled primarily by texture soil
and the soil organic matter content.
The highest water holding capacity
that we get from this experiment, is mangrove soil which is 28.1. Mangrove soil
is recorded the highest percentage of water holding capacity, because mangrove
soil is are that surrounded by fresh water, so that why the percentage of water
holding is the highest.
Lake of Residential College E soil
recorded the second highest percentage of water holding capacity. This is
because Kg E’s soil is take near to the lake. This type of soil is good for
vegetation because this soil is peat soil that usually farmer use for
agriculture. This because, the more darker soil of soil their many nutrients
for vegetation.
Mountain soil and FSSA soil have
almost have a same the percentage water holding capacity, this type of soil is
similar. But from our observation toward the vegetation that we plant by used soil
is suitable that mountain soil. Sandy soil recorded the lowest percentage water
holding capacity. This is because the soil porosity. Air space to organism
decomposing organic matter. Pore spaces also allow the movement of water and
storage of water and dissolve nutrient. Sandy soil have 2.0mm and are gritty to
touch. Since all plant need oxygen for respiration. They have a specific plant
that can planted in sandy plant. The suitable soil that maize can be planted is
lake of Residential College E soil. Because it peat soil so it very suitable
for maize. Because peat soil content lot of nutrients that come from
decomposing dead organism.
7.0 Conclusion
Soil water content as we usually
refer to either moisture retention between wilting point and field capacity or
between any other two soil moisture constant. Different type of soil will show different
soil moisture. However, water holding capacity is worked beyond field capacity.
How much of soil can hold moisture without loss of moisture is due to
gravitational pulls. Soil water holding capacity is the soil moisture content
that will remain in soil after water drained off in the large pores. The
gravitational water is held in large soil pores and rapidly drains out under
the action of gravity. Capillary water is held in large soil pores and rapidly
drains out under the action of gravity within a day or after raining. Plants
can only make use of gravitational water for a few days after rain.
8.0 References
AgVerra.16.10.2010.2.4.2018.5
different of soil-know your soil type. http://agverra.com/blog/soil-types/
Dr .James
E.Arnold.30.12.1999.2.4.2018.Soil moisture, https://weather.msfc.nasa.gov/landprocess/
Jai Gosh,2018,2.4.2018,what is the
diffrence between soil water content and water holding capacity, https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_difference_between_soil_water_content_and_water_holding_capacity_WHC_from_a_soil_ecological_point_of_view
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