Fifth Lab Report: TARAB ARAB Padi Sawah

Lecturer: Madam Diana Demiyah binti Mohd Hamdan

Date of Submission: 8^th May 2018

VIDEO REPORT FOR SOIL MOISTURE AND SOIL PH: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-TE_QNI1eS3rUVEs8FTltmh_ahDaBzXQ/view

VIDEO REPORT ON SOIL MOISTURE AND SOIL PH OF ODEC SOIL : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jIwCNxqylbWSZkJ2nQRGI51lFEPwMMEz/view


Soil Analysis Test: Soil Nutrient Analysis

NAME	MATRIC NUMBER
NG JING JIE	BS17160675
FICKRY JAJURI	BS17160677
NURUL IRINA AK DOUGLAS NYEGING	BS17110050
MARILYN LEANNE MONROE	BS17110366
EMILEY TOMPOK @ MOJINOK	BS17110145
SITI NURAZWANNI BT. WARISHAD	BS17160698

INTRODUCTION

Soil is a multipart of physical and biological schemes, which gives support to the plants and supplies essential nutrient to the soils. The weathering processes disintegrate rock and convert it into nutrients for the soil. It forms a thin layer on surface. It contains minerals particles, organic matter, water, and air. This becomes a fundamental resource of life which support the growth of plants and hence human and other living organisms. In recent decades, in order to increase the yield and production of cultivable plants, more organic and inorganic fertilizers have been added to natural soil. But due to continuous and excess use of such fertilizers, the primary constituent’s status in soil is changed. The mineral nutrients like micro and macro has unique importance in plant such as cell elongation, metabolism, oxygen evolution, nitrogen fixation and respiration to constitute chlorophyll. As what has been studied, the effect of pH on nutrient balance and it was observed that high pH can affect the micronutrient content present in soil. Manganese and iron level decline with increase in soil pH. However, pH is a good sign for maintaining equilibrium between nutrients in the soil. It is also an indicator for plants and other living organisms on nutrient availability, cation exchange capacity and organic matter content. The mobility of nutrient in soils is largely depended on soil pH. It has been shown that most of plant nutrients are optimally available to plants at pH range between 6.5 to 7.5 ranges. There are 17 essential nutrients which are required for plant growth. However, micronutrients like Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu are only accessible in acidic situation.

Each nutrient provides different functions to plants. Nitrogen are constituents of amino acids, amides, proteins, nutrients, coenzymes, hexamines, etc. Sulphur on the other hand are components of proteins. Phosphorus are vital for plants in energy storage or structural integrity where P is a component of sugar phosphates, nucleic acids, nucleotides, coenzymes and plays a vital role in processes that involves ATP.

OBJECTIVES

1.     To determine the nutrient content in each soil type

2.     To correlate the nutrient content with the pH and the electrical conductivity of the soils

To study the germination rates affected by the nutrient content.

MATERIALS AND APPARATUS

-Distilled water

-200ml glass beaker

-1.45µm membrane filter paper

-Vacuum pump

-HACH kit

-Spatula

-Gloves

-5 samples of 20 gram of dried soil samples

-Magnetic pump

-Glass rods

-Analytical balance

-Filter funnel

PROCEDURES

1)    Gloves were worn while handling the soil to avoid contact with the soil.

2)    The soil samples that have been air-dried were weighed. The results were recorded.

3)    20g of dried soil was weighed and was put in a beaker.

4)    50ml of distilled water was added into the beaker containing 20g of soil.

5)    The sample solution was mixed well by glass rod for 20 minutes.

6)    The mixture was allowed to stand undisturbed for at least 10 minutes. The clarity of the solution will vary, the clearer the mixture the better.

7)    Then, the solution was filtered. The solution which was clearer was filtered first compared to the murky one. HDPE bottles for macronutrients analysis were stored using the HDPE kit.

8)    Step 3 until 7 were repeated for each type of soils.

9)    Next, using the HACH kit three nutrients were analysed.

10) The nutrient were analysed by using code (680 Sulphate), (490 P React. PV-Phosphorus) and (355N, Nitrate HR PP).

11) The average of each reading was taken.

Procedure for nutrient analysis code (680 Sulphate)

1)    Code (680 Sulphate) was selected in the stored programs for the test.

2)    10ml of sample was put in a square sample cell.

3)    The SulfaVer 4 Reagent Powder Pillow was added into the cell. Then, the sample was swirled vigorously and if sulphate is present, white turbidity will form.

4)    The timer was selected for five minutes reaction period. The cell will not be disturbed during this time.

5)    Another 10 ml of sample was put into a new square sample cell.

6)    When the timer expired, the blank sample was inserted into the cell holder with line facing right. Next, “Zero” was selected and the display was shown by the machine.

7)    The sample with SulfaVer 4 Reagent Powder Pillow was inserted into the cell holder with the filled liner facing right within five minutes after the timer expired. “Read” was selected and the results displayed was recorded. Next, the sample cells will be cleaned.

Procedure for nutrient analysis code (490 P React. PV-Phosphorus)

1)    Code (490 P React. PV-Phosphorus) was selected in the stored programs for the test.

2)    10ml of sample was put in a square sample cell.

3)    The PhosVer 3 phosphate Powder Pillow was added into the cell. Then, the sample was swirled vigorously for 30 minutes.

4)    The timer was selected for two minutes reaction period. The cell will not be disturbed during this time. If the samples was digested using the Acid Persulphate digestion, a ten minute reaction period is required.

5)    Another 10 ml of sample was put into a new square sample cell.

6)    When the timer expired, the blank sample was inserted into the cell holder with line facing right. Next, “Zero” was selected and the display was shown up.

1)    8. The sample with PhosVer 3 phosphate Powder Pillow was inserted into the cell holder with the filled liner facing right within five minutes after the timer expired. “Read” was selected and the results displayed was recorded. Next, the sample cells will be cleaned.

Procedure for nutrient analysis code (355N, Nitrate HR PP)

1)    Code (355N, Nitrate HR PP) was selected in the stored programs for the test.

2)    10ml of sample was put in a square sample cell.

3)    The NitraVer 5-Nitrate Reagent Powder Pillow was added into the cell. Then, the sample was swirled vigorously for 30 minutes.

4)    The timer is selected for one minute reaction period. The cell will not be disturbed during this time. When the timer expired, the timer will be pressed one more time and a five minute reaction will begin. If nitrate is present, and amber colour will develop.

5)    Another 10 ml of sample was put into a new square sample cell.

6)    When the timer expired, the blank sample was inserted into the cell holder with line facing right. Next, “Zero” was selected and the display was shown up.

2)    The sample with NitraVer 5-Nitrate Reagent Powder Pillow was inserted into the cell holder with the filled liner facing right within five minutes after the timer expired. “Read” was selected and the results displayed was recorded. Next, the sample cells will be cleaned.

RESULTS

Soils	Type of Nutrients	First reading (mg/L)	Second reading (mg/L)	Third reading (mg/L)	Average reading (mg/L)
Soil from ODEC	Sulphate	75.00	73.00	73.00	73.67
	Phosphate	0.15	0.15	0.14	0.15
	Nitrate	2.80	2.80	2.30	2.63
Garden soil	Sulphate	21.00	21.00	21.00	21.00
	Phosphate	3.15	3.17	3.18	3.17
	Nitrate	13.40	13.60	15.10	14.03
Soil from UMS Peak	Sulphate	3.00	4.00	3.00	3.33
	Nitrate	4.40	4.30	4.40	4.37
	Phosphate	0.87	0.86	0.87	0.87
Soil from Blok B1, KG E	Sulphate	4.00	4.00	4.00	4.00
	Nitrate	0.90	0.70	0.70	0.77
	Phosphate	0.08	0.08	0.08	0.08
Soil from KG E	Sulphate	8.00	8.00	8.00	8.00
	Nitrate	7.70	7.80	7.70	7.73
	Phosphate	0.32	0.32	0.32	0.32

Table 1: Nutrients recorded for 5 types of different soil

DISCUSSION

In the analysis, three nutrients or also considered as macronutrient were tested in their own respective ionic forms, nitrate NO^3- , SO₄^2- and PO₄^3-. These ions are readily available to be present in the soils. As mentioned in the introduction, these macronutrients play vital roles in the soil environment and to plant bodies. 3 readings were recorded for each nutrient in each soil with a total of 5 soil types. Looking at sulphate ions, ODEC soil recorded the highest sulphate reading at 73.67 mg/L whereas the second highest recorded sulphate ions would be 21.00 mg/L. The three other soils recorded 3.33 mg/L (UMS Peak), 4.00 mg/L (BLK B1, Kg E) and 8.00 mg/L (compounds of Kg E) respectively. In terms of nitrate ions, soils from the garden soil recorded the highest nitrate content at 14.03 mg/L, followed by 7.73 mg/L by the soils from Kg E, 4.37 mg/L by UMS Peak soils and the last two would be 2.63 mg/L (ODEC Soil) and 0.77 mg/L (BLK B1). For the nutrient phosphate, garden soil again recorded the highest reading at 3.17 mg/L, followed by 0.87 mg/L by UMS Peak soil and the last three were recorded by KG E, ODEC and BLK B1 soils.

Generally, clay soil contains high sulphur-sulphur than sandy soils due to high CEC of the former. Besides, sulphur is much more available in low pH soils compared to high pH soils. This condition does not favour ODEC soils from having the highest sulphate nutrients. However, during the soil salinity test, ODEC soil recorded the highest electrical conductivity which also corresponds to having the high content of negative charge ions such as the above nutrients. The high content of sulphur present in the other soils are also due to the presence of clay and high organic matter content which are sources of sulphur.

Majority of soil nitrogen is found in organic form (95-99%) which is usually unavailable to plants. They are present as amine groups either in proteins or part of the humic compounds. The compounds are then mineralized to simple organic compound such as lysine and alanine. These amino compounds are then hydrolysed as nitrogen and is released as NH⁴⁺ ions and oxidised to NO^3- form. The abundance and distribution of soil nitrogen is also greatly related to the soil organic matter which stores almost 5% nitrogen. Through the mason jar test, it was observed that soils from UMS Peak, garden soil, and KG E soil has high organic matter content which corresponds to a higher content of nitrate ions.

The total phosphorus content is usually 1/10 to 1/4^th of the nitrogen content in the soil. Phosphorus in soil usually from 0.001 mg/L in poor soils whereas 1.0 mg/L in rich fertile soils. P is also available in maximum in neutral soils. Availability of P is much more in low pH or acidic soils. There are a few factors of P retention in soil, time of retention, low soil pH has high rate of retention and low temperature results in high retention. Besides, soil with a pH between 6-7 has high availability of P. Garden soil of course has a lower pH which was 5.11 (acidic) causes a higher P retention. UMS Peak and ODEC soils both has a pH in the range of 6-7 results in a higher P availability. The amount of nutrients clearly exceeds more than the optimum level which is why the germination rate of the paddy plants are inhibited.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the identification of macronutrients was as what shown on (table 1*). Nutrients are very crucial to keep the plant alive and induce the well growth of a plant. Plants need several mineral for healthy growth. Based on the result soil from Blok B1, KG E have the lowest phosphate, this may be one of the reason why the seed did not germinate because of phosphate is important in cell division and development of new tissue. Even the nutrients is very important for the plant to grow but the right amount of the nutrients should be taken into consideration. Too low in nutrients may cause the plant did not get enough nutrients to grow but too much of nutrients can be lethal to the plant.

REFERENCES

1) Prasad, N.K. 2013. Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition. ibdc Publishers. First Edition.

2) Forth, H.D. 1997. Soil Fertility. 2nd Ed. CRC Press. Boca Ratton, Florida.