Course: Biology Agricultural Science & Technology



Course: Plant and Soil Science

Unit: Soils and Soilless media

Unit Objectives: Describe basic physical, biological, and chemical properties of soil and soilless media

A. Explain soil components.

B. Describe the physical characteristics of soil and soilless media.

C. Describe the biological activity within soil and soilless media.

D. Describe the chemical properties of soil and soilless media.

E. Explain the characteristics of water movement in soil and soilless media.

Materials Needed (Equipment):

Computer

Projector

4 different soil samples

Water bottles

Paper towels

Facilities:

Classroom

Lab

Computer Lab

Interest Approach: Have different types of soil out for students to feel and see what different textures of the soil are as they in the classroom. If you can find some sample that have a different texture like sand, clay, loam(a purchased bag of top soil), some soilless media or any other types of soil you have. This will give you some sample that you can refer back to. Have them write down what type soil they think they are.

Objective A: Explain soil components.

|Curriculum (Content) |Instruction (Methodology) |

|(What to teach) |(How to teach) |

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|4 Soil components |Use PowerPoint Standard 4 Objective 2 |

|-Average soils will contain 45% minerals and 5% organic matter. |A.1 Slides 1-4 |

|-The components air and water equal the other 50%. |Explain the four basic components that soil has |

|Soil components | |

|·The two components Water and Air change depending on the amount | |

|of water or rain fall a soil receives. | |

|·The four parts of a soil: | |

|·mineral | |

|·organic matter (HUMUS) | |

|·water | |

|·air | |

|5 Soil Formation Factors | |

|1. Parent material-The material that soils will be formed from. | |

|2. Climatic factors* Most influential of the four factors. |A.2 Slide 5-6 |

|a. Temperature |Ask how they think soil is formed |

|b. Rain |Has anyone been to Arches National Park |

|c. Wind |Explain how the way they have been formed |

|*Active factors | |

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|Soil Profile | |

|consists of 3 basic layers | |

|topsoil | |

|subsoil |A.3 Slide 7-9 What is a profile view? |

|soil bedrock |Explain that a soil profile is a side view down into the soil. |

| |Show other examples of a soil profile. |

|Topsoil represents depth normally plowed | |

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|Subsoil deep rooting plants send roots down into subsoil | |

|Master Horizons | |

|O-(organic) forms above the mineral soil. This horizon is | |

|usually found in forested areas. | |

|A-This is the top soil. It is a dark humus layer where most | |

|plant rooting occurs | |

|B-zone of illuviation or accumulation from zones above it. |A.3 Slide 10-11 |

|C-parent material composed of wind-blown silt(loess),river |Explain how this horizon change depending on the type of soil |

|deposits or glacial till, |that it is. |

|R-Bedrock |One of the big factors that effects the type of soil is the |

| |parent material. |

” you will proceed to the front

Objective B: Describe the physical characteristics of soil and soilless media.

|Curriculum (Content) |Instruction (Methodology) |

|(What to teach) |(How to teach) |

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|Soil |B.1 Slide 12 |

|classified according to percentage of sand, silt, and clay they |What does texture mean? |

|contain. |What are some different types of texture of things |

|We call this Soil texture! | |

| |B.1 Slide 13-20 |

|Soil Physical Characteristics | |

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|What is Soil Texture? | |

|-the proportion of three sizes of soil particles. | |

|-Which are: | |

|-Sand (Large) | |

|-Silt (Medium) | |

|-Clay (Small) | |

|Soil Structure | |

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|Soils have three different particle sizes |B.2 Slide 14-Explain the that sand is the largest |

|The largest particles are sand. They range from 2.0-.005 mm in | |

|diameter | |

| |B.2 Slide 15-Explain how silt is the medium and clay is the |

|Soil Structure |smallest |

|Particles that are between .005-.002 mm in diameter are | |

|considered silt. | |

|The soil particles .002 mm in diameter and smaller are clay | |

|particles. | |

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|-Soil Texture |The next few slides go into a little more depth about each of |

|-What is Sand? |them |

|-It is the largest and is further divided into four |Slide 16-18 |

|subcategories. | |

|-They are: | |

|-Very coarse sand | |

|-Coarse sand | |

|-Medium sand | |

|-Fine Sand | |

|- it is the largest soil separate and is composed mainly of | |

|weathered grains of quartz. | |

|-Sand is also gritty to the touch. | |

|-Sand grains will not stick to each other. | |

|-silt and clay make up less than 20% by weight | |

|-drain well | |

|-little water holding capacity | |

|-What will sand do to the soil? | |

|-It will improve the soil by improving the water infiltration | |

|and aeration | |

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|- Silt | |

|- is the medium sized soil separated. | |

|-Silt particles are silky or powdery to the touch |Slide 19 |

|-Silt grains will not stick to one another just like sand grains.| |

|-Silt is the best soil as it has the ability to hold large | |

|amounts of water in a form plants can use. | |

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|-Clay | |

|- is the smallest size soil separate. | |

|-It is composed of tiny crystals | |

|-Clay is formed by chemical reactions between weathered minerals| |

|to form tiny particle of new minerals. | |

|-Clay will hold more plant nutrients than any other separate. | |

|-Clay grains will stick to one another. |Slide 20 |

|-must contain at least 30% clay | |

|-holds more moisture than is good for plants | |

|-poor drainage | |

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|Loamy soil | |

|-Most desirable soil | |

|-Equal parts of sand silt and clay | |

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|-Soil Texture | |

|-There are 12 textural classes which can be seen in the next | |

|slide. | |

| |Slide 21 Why would equal parts be desirable? What are the good |

|-Textural triangle |qualities about each type of soil? |

|-Soil Texture | |

|-Pass out picture of triangle and lets see if we can classify |Slide 22 Explain that there are 12 textural classes based on the |

|some soils. |percentage of soil found in it |

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| |Slide 23-25 Go through and explain how to read the texture |

|-Soil Texture |triangle. Hand out the texture triangle paper so the students |

|-1. |can see what it is |

|-40% sand 22% clay and 38% silt | |

|-What is the soil classified as? | |

| |Slide 26-29 Go through and practice these as a class. |

|-2. |Once they have this down pass out the texture triangle assignment|

|-90% sand 10 % clay and 25 % silt | |

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|-3. | |

|-30% sand 50 % clay and 15% silt | |

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|-4. | |

|-10 % sand 80% clay and 30% silt. | |

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|-Soil Texture | |

|-Ribbon Method | |

|-See if you can make a ribbon and with which one? | |

|-Which one feels grittiest? | |

|-Which one feel powdery? |Slide 30-Explains the two other methods |

|-Soil Sedimentation Method | |

|-Place soil in a jar | |

|-Mix soil and water | |

|-Let it settle | |

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|-Time for a lab | |

|-Before we begin put everything away (this could get a little | |

|dirty) | |

|-Pick up lab sheets |Slide 31-Explain the lab |

|-Soil Texture by Feel Answer Sheet |See the word document that explains the lab |

|-Soil Texture Flow Chart | |

|-You will need to texture each of the four samples of soil | |

|-Keep your area as clean as possible | |

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Objective C: Describe the biological activity within soil and soilless media.

|Curriculum (Content) |Instruction (Methodology) |

|(What to teach) |(How to teach) |

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|-The Soil Ecosystem |Slide 33 Explain the difference between biotic and abiotic |

|-Interaction of biotic and abiotic factors in a soil environment.| |

|The process of organisms growing and decomposing. | |

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Objective D: Describe the chemical properties of soil and soilless media.

Objective E: Explain the characteristics of water movement in soil and soilless media.

Additional Materials: After you have gone over all of the soils information use the Soilless media presentation to cover the soilless media information that is need.

Evaluation: Soils Test

Reference:

Reiley, H.E., and C.L. Shry. Introductory Horticulture. 7. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar, 2007. Print

Parker, Rick. Plant and Soil Science. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar, 2010. Print.

Online and Additional Resources







Meets USOE Standards and Objectives:

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|Curriculum (Content) |Instruction (Methodology) |

|(What to teach) |(How to teach) |

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|Transportation of Soils |Slides 39-44 |

|Gravity-colluvial water |Explain how water is moved has different types of names depending |

|stream-alluvial |on how and where it is coming form |

|ocean-marine | |

|lake-lacustrine | |

|ice -glacial | |

|wind-aeolian | |

| |What is erosion? |

|Erosion |Why is it such an environmental concern? |

|One of the largest environmental problems stemming from | |

|agriculture is erosion. | |

|Erosion lowers productivity because of the loss of topsoil. | |

|Erosion Prevention/Reduction | |

|Minimum or No till farming-Leaving stubble in the fields to hold | |

|soil and planting over it. | |

|Terracing-Planting crops in a zig-zag formation. | |

|Erosion Prevention/Reduction | |

|Leave crop residue to cover the soil! Utilize mulches! | |

|Use cover crops! Use windbreaks. Use contour farming and strip | |

|cropping. | |

|Tytypes of | |

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|W Water in Soil | |

|GrGravitational water is water that soil is unable to hold | |

|Capillary water is held against the force of gravity | |

|Free moving capillary water | |

|Moves in all directions | |

|Types of Water in Soil |Explain the different types of water that can be found in soil |

|Capillary water is held against the force of gravity | |

|Available capillary water (field capacity)-Water left after | |

|capillary movement stops | |

|Unavailable capillary water -water not available to plants | |

What makes up soil or what are the components of soil

How many of you have ever played in the mud?

Do different types of mud have different textures?

What is an ecosystem?

What would make up the ecosystem of the soil?

|Curriculum (Content) |Instruction (Methodology) |

|(What to teach) |(How to teach) |

|Chemical Properties |Slide 34 |

|Important for plant growth and availability of nutrients |Explain how important pH is for all living things. |

|Dissolved mineral salts determine soils |Ask what things they know are acidic and what are basic or |

|Acidity: pH of less than 7.0 |alkaline |

|Alkalinity: pH of more than 7.0 | |

|Neutrality: pH of 7.0 | |

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|Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) |Slide 35 |

|-Total number of exchangeable cations soil can hold (amount of |Explain that CEC is related to how fertile the soil can be. The |

|its negative charge) |higher the CEC the better. |

|-Depends on amounts and kinds of clay and organic matter present | |

|-Increases as organic matter increases | |

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|Properties of Soil Clays |Slide 36-38 |

|Cation Retention on Organic Matter | |

|Cation Exchange Capacity | |

|Cation exchange capacity (CEC) is the total amount of cations | |

|that a soil can retain | |

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|The higher the soil CEC the greater ability it has to store plant| |

|nutrients | |

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|Soil CEC increases as | |

|The amount of clay increases | |

|The amount of organic matter increases | |

|The soil pH increases | |

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