Soil Experiment Parts 1 and 2 Worksheet

DIRECTIONS:

After reading and thinking about each question, write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. Be sure your answer numbers correspond to the number of each question.

Part 1: Percolation of Water Through Sand

1. Before doing this experiment, predict which soil--sand, silt, or clay--will allow water to pass through first? How much time do you think it will take for all the water to completely pass through this soil type?

2. Record the time it takes for water to percolate through each soil type--sand, silt, and clay.

3. Based on your observations, which soil allowed water to percolate through faster? Explain why you think this happened.

4. Which soil type appears to have retained the most water? Give your reasons why.

Refer to the Pinelands Soils Charts for help in answering the next questions

5. What would you predict about the percolation rate and water retention ability of Pinelands soils?

6. What would happen to Pinelands soils after a light rain? a heavy rain?

7. What happens to rainfall that reaches the Pinelands forest floor?

8. What would happen if toxic waste or polluted material were dumped onto the Pinelands soils?

9. What are the advantages and/or drawbacks of Pinelands sandy soils through which water percolates (moves) rapidly?

Part 2: Leaching of Minerals

1. Observe and record what happens to the layers of sand and jell-o.

2. Why do you think this happened?

Refer to the Pinelands Soils Charts when answering the following questions

3. What is the predominant color of soils in the A Horizon?

4. What are the predominant colors of soils in the B Horizon?

5. Why do you think the color has changed?

6. What do you think this color represents?

BONUS QUESTION: As a result of your experimentation and observations, what can you conclude about the texture of Pinelands soils and their characteristics of percolation and leaching?