Soil

The Beautiful State of South Carolina

South Carolina is one of the most beautiful states because it stretches from the mountains to the sea.

Look at the map of our state. Why is the state separated into five different colors?

Regions~ Because of our diverse landscape, South Carolina has been divided into regions.

What are they?

What’s your region?

Why are there boxes on the map?

Counties! Where is Aiken County?

What region do we live in?

Do you think the soil is the same in all regions of SC?

Let’s Investigate Soils!

Use the microscope on your table to look through the soil dishes.

What do you think soil is made of?

Do you think that all of the samples are the same type of soil?

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What is Soil Made of?

Rocks Roots Insects Sticks Wood Chips Bark

Horizons

Do you think that each dish has the same type of soil?

Each letter stands for a different layer or horizon O-Organic A-Topsoil E-Sand B-Clay All of the layers together make a soil profile.

How is soil formed?

We know what soil is made of but how is it formed?

Do we mix all of the roots, rocks, insects, and wood chips together and make soil?

Do big rocks have baby rocks?

Soil is formed from: Weathering Decomposing

Why is soil important to me?

It is a part of our ecosystem.

Bricks, Concrete, Glass, Paper, Wood

Food, Oxygen Shampoo, Makeup,

Cereal Its EVERYWHERE!

Let’s get ready to go to the pit!

You will be working with the people at your table to conduct your soil studies.

You will be working at soil piles along the trail. I will be in the pit the entire time and will pull one

team down at at time. Let’s find out what you will be testing!

The Ped

A Ped is one unit or chunk of soil. Pick up a ped from one of the dishes on your table.

This is what you will be using to conduct your soil study.

Soil Structure

When we test soil structure, we are testing the shape of the ped.

Outside your team will match the peds to these geometric shapes.

Granular Blocky Platy Columnar Prismatic

Consistency Consistency measures how easily the ped falls apart. Use this key to determine consistency

Loose- falls

apart easily Friable- breaks with a little pressure

Firm- is when the ped dents your finger before breaking

Extremely firm- You need a hammer to break it!

Texture Texture is the way the soil feels when you

rub it between your fingers. To test texture you will need to wet some soil

and roll it into a ball. (Yes in your hands!) Then follow this key:

If it feels really gritty: Sandy

If if feels smooth but still gritty: Loam

If it feels smooth and very sticky: Clay

Color To test color you will use your

Earth Colors book. Scientists use a letter and number

code to help them identify soil. These numbers can be put into a

computer and people all over the world will know what color our soil is!

Outside you will need to match the damp soil color with the color in the book. Then record the code.

pH pH is the measure of

how much acid is in a substance.

It is measured with a scale that ranges from 0-14.

Every substance with a pH less than 7 is an acid.

Every substance with a ph more than 7 is a base.

A pH of 7 gives us a neutral substance.

Measuring pH of the soil

Put a pinch of soil into the film canister

Fill the film canister halfway with water

Wait 1 minute Use your litmus paper

to test the pH Rinse the film canister Do this for every

horizon!

Temperature and Depth Your team will measure temperature and depth in

the pit with me.

Infiltration This should be the last

thing that you do! You are going to test

how quickly the water moves through the soil

Do not do this in the piles or in the pit!

Pick a safe place around the outside of the study area!

Directions are in your packet!

Soil Tubes!!

After everyone has completed their soil studies, we will make soil tubes.

You can take these home today!

LET’S GO TO THE SOIL PIT!• Remember to walk.

•Make sure you have your bucket, pencil, and clipboard.

•Stay in your teams and wait to go into the pit.

•Have fun!!!