Pre-lab experiment
A.I am going to carry out an experiment to test the level of salinity of soils close to water bodies. Through the experiment, I want to determine how the various soils affect the type of crops that can grow in the water banks and whether the water boy affects the level of salinity in the soils.
Introduction
B1-I experimented by collecting various soil samples from different water bodies around my area of study. I collected the soil samples from the beds of a permanent river, a lake, and the ocean. The soil samples were stored in plastic containers and tightly sealed before I stored them in the lab. I made sure that the temperature of the room remained constant throughout the experimentation period. Salinity refers to the level of noncarbonated salts in water. Seawater has the highest level of salinity, standing at 35, while freshwater bodies have a level of below 0.1.
The PH of the soil is measured by the number of hydrogen ions present in soil water. The pH level of the water determines the organisms that can live in the soil. Most organisms can survive when the PH level is from 5-6. Rainwater affects the PH of soils because it contains carbon ions and sulfur formed due to excessive pollution. The water is absorbed into soils, and the excess drains into rivers and other water bodies.
Organisms and plants Temperatures mainly determine the temperature of the water, and soils in water bodies are affected by the number of wind currents and the depth of the ocean. Regarding soils, organisms that live in the soil and plants help to regulate their temperature. Catfish help to increase the temperature of water because they emit temperatures of about 35-degree Celsius.
B2-The most possible outcomes for the experiment were that the soils would differ in the level of salinity. The ocean soils would be the most saline because most minerals are deposited at the entrances of rivers into lakes. Moreover, the ocean has numerous creatures that release salts into the water, which are mainly accumulated along the coastline. The lake salts would have less salinity or no salinity, depending on the underlying bedrock. If the rocks underneath can easily be dissolved, then the water deposits salt along the banks making the soils saline. The river soils would exhibit very low signs of salinity. In conclusion, my experiment would prove that soils located along river banks are more fertile and can sustain the growth of vegetation unlike soils found along lakes and oceans. Also, the salinity of water affects the soils around the water bodies.
Materials and methods
C 1- I will use the sampling method to achieve the experiment objectives. Sampling involves the random selection of the study item that is used as a representative of the total population.
C2-I will the level of soil salinity using electrical conductivity. By bypassing an electrical current, salts in the soil can conduct the current, showing the presence of minerals in the soil sample. I can confirm my results using the saturated paste extract method. The procedure involves the addition of water t the soil to make a muddy mixture that is left overnight before extraction of the salts and water.
C3- The main laboratory safety concern that I followed was ensuring that I did not miss any of the samples as it would result in inconclusive results. I also kept all chemicals sealed at all times to prevent contamination.
