Unit B Lesson B10 Types of Soil
Completion requirements
Lesson B10: Types of Soil
Video Lesson
Soil is not the same everywhere on earth. Watch the video below to learn about various types of soil.
Lesson B10: Types of Soil
Figure B.3.10.1 – Black soils are good for growing crops.
Figure B.3.10.2 – The province of Prince Edward Island is known for its bright red soils.
Colourful Soil
Soil comes in many shades and colours. The colour of soil indicates some information about what is in the soil. Black soils contain lots of humus, which is very good for growing most plants. Red soils contain a mineral called iron oxide, which makes the soil look red. Iron oxide is the same thing as rust. Red soils drain water very well. Yellow soils also contain iron, but they do not drain water as well as red soils do. White or grey soils are usually sandy soils.
Soil comes in many shades and colours. The colour of soil indicates some information about what is in the soil. Black soils contain lots of humus, which is very good for growing most plants. Red soils contain a mineral called iron oxide, which makes the soil look red. Iron oxide is the same thing as rust. Red soils drain water very well. Yellow soils also contain iron, but they do not drain water as well as red soils do. White or grey soils are usually sandy soils.
Figure B.3.10.3 – Yellow soils contain very little organic material.
Reading and Materials for This Lesson
Science in Action 7
Materials:
Science in Action 7
Reading: Pages 138-142
Materials:
soil from under an evergreen tree, soil from a field or flower bed, spoon, measuring cups, 2 tall glass cups, white vinegar, baking soda, water, glass measuring cup or measuring cylinder, empty 500 mL plastic pop bottle, 2 funnels, 9 coffee filters,
sand, red powdered drink (such as Kool-Aid), juice pitcher
Watch More
What is Dirt?
Watch this video to review the substances in soil.
Watch this video to review the substances in soil.
Soil Acidity
An important characteristic of soil is its acidity. Acids are substances that taste sour, such as lemon juice or vinegar. Acids react with alkaline substances, or bases. Vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. That’s why vinegar and baking soda react and fizz when they are combined. If something is neither an acid nor a base, it is called neutral.
Various kinds of plants grow best in various kinds of soils. Most plants like neutral or slightly acidic soils. Some plants, such as blueberries and pine trees, grow better in soil that is more acidic. Other plants, such as plum trees and asparagus plants, grow better in slightly basic soil.
The acidity of soil can be changed. A soil can be made more basic and less acidic by adding lime, which is made by crushing white limestone rocks into powder. A soil can be made more acidic and less basic by adding a mineral called gypsum.
An important characteristic of soil is its acidity. Acids are substances that taste sour, such as lemon juice or vinegar. Acids react with alkaline substances, or bases. Vinegar is an acid and baking soda is a base. That’s why vinegar and baking soda react and fizz when they are combined. If something is neither an acid nor a base, it is called neutral.
Various kinds of plants grow best in various kinds of soils. Most plants like neutral or slightly acidic soils. Some plants, such as blueberries and pine trees, grow better in soil that is more acidic. Other plants, such as plum trees and asparagus plants, grow better in slightly basic soil.
The acidity of soil can be changed. A soil can be made more basic and less acidic by adding lime, which is made by crushing white limestone rocks into powder. A soil can be made more acidic and less basic by adding a mineral called gypsum.
Figure B.3.10.4 – In basic or alkaline soil, hydrangea flowers are pink.
Figure B.3.10.5 – In acidic soil, hydrangea flowers are blue.
Watch More
Colour-Changing Flowers
Hydrangeas are flowers that change colour depending on the acidity of the soil. The following video by the Grumpy Gardener explains how to change the acidity of the soil deliberately to change from blue to red or red to blue hydrangeas. However, white hydrangeas will always be white -- they refuse to adjust!
Hydrangeas are flowers that change colour depending on the acidity of the soil. The following video by the Grumpy Gardener explains how to change the acidity of the soil deliberately to change from blue to red or red to blue hydrangeas. However, white hydrangeas will always be white -- they refuse to adjust!
Try It!
Test Soil Acidity
Try this simple experiment to test the acidity of two samples of different soils.
Materials:
Try this simple experiment to test the acidity of two samples of different soils.
Materials:
- a handful of soil from under an evergreen tree
- a handful of soil from a field or flower bed
- spoon
- measuring cups
- 2 glass cups
-
white vinegar
- baking soda
-
water
Instructions:
-
Put 3 spoons of evergreen tree soil into each of the two glass cups.
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Measure ½ cup of vinegar and pour it into one glass cup. If the evergreen tree soil becomes fizzy with bubbles, the soil is basic, or alkaline.
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If nothing happens, add ¼ cup of water and ½ cup of baking soda to the other glass cup of evergreen tree soil. If that soil becomes fizzy, the soil is acidic.
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If nothing happens to either cup, the soil is neutral.
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Clean the glass cups and repeat steps 1 to 4 for the other soil sample.
Water Drainage in Soils
If you have houseplants, watering them appropriately is important. Too much water can become a problem for plants. If soil contains too much water, air cannot stay in the soil. When plant roots are not exposed to air, they start to rot. Root rot kills plants. Thus, plant pots should have drainage holes in their bottoms. This prevents root rot by allowing extra water to drain from the soil -- and, preferably, into a dish rather than onto the table!
The speed of water drainage in soils is important for plant growth. Sandy soils drain water very quickly. Many plants have difficulty growing in sandy soil because water does not stay in the soil long enough for the plant to absorb it. Clay soils drain water very slowly. Plants in clay soils are susceptible to root rot. Loam soils are best for a wide variety of plants. Loam retains moisture long enough for plants to absorb the water, but it still has good water drainage.
If you have houseplants, watering them appropriately is important. Too much water can become a problem for plants. If soil contains too much water, air cannot stay in the soil. When plant roots are not exposed to air, they start to rot. Root rot kills plants. Thus, plant pots should have drainage holes in their bottoms. This prevents root rot by allowing extra water to drain from the soil -- and, preferably, into a dish rather than onto the table!
The speed of water drainage in soils is important for plant growth. Sandy soils drain water very quickly. Many plants have difficulty growing in sandy soil because water does not stay in the soil long enough for the plant to absorb it. Clay soils drain water very slowly. Plants in clay soils are susceptible to root rot. Loam soils are best for a wide variety of plants. Loam retains moisture long enough for plants to absorb the water, but it still has good water drainage.
Figure B.3.10.6 – Some types of soil hold water very well.
Figure B.3.10.7 – Pots need drainage holes to grow healthy plants.
Try It!
Water Drainage in Soil
Try this simple experiment to find out how well a soil sample drains water.
Materials:
Try this simple experiment to find out how well a soil sample drains water.
Materials:
-
soil
- spoon
- glass measuring cup or measuring cylinder
- empty 500 mL plastic pop bottle
- funnel
- 3 coffee filters
-
water
Instructions:
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Layer the 3 coffee filters together. Fold the coffee filters into a cone shape. Put the coffee filter cone inside the funnel.
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Put 3 spoonfuls of soil in the coffee filter cone in the funnel.
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Put the bottom tip of the funnel into the empty pop bottle.
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Measure 100 mL of water into the glass measuring cup or cylinder.
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Pour the water slowly from the measuring cup over the soil in the funnel. Be careful not to overflow the funnel.
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After all the water is added, let the water drain for another 20 minutes.
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Remove the funnel from the pop bottle.
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Pour the water back into the measuring cup or cylinder. Measure the amount of water that drained from the soil.
Question:
Think about the following question very carefully. Then, type or write your answer. After you have your answer, click the question for feedback.
Think about the following question very carefully. Then, type or write your answer. After you have your answer, click the question for feedback.
If you measured nearly 100 mL of water draining from the soil, the soil drained most of the water that you added. Your soil sample is probably sandy soil.
If you measured about half the water (50 mL or less) draining from the soil, the soil held the other half of the water you added. Your soil sample is probably clay.
If most of the water (perhaps 60 or 70 mL) drained from the soil, but not all of it, your soil sample is probably loam.
If you measured about half the water (50 mL or less) draining from the soil, the soil held the other half of the water you added. Your soil sample is probably clay.
If most of the water (perhaps 60 or 70 mL) drained from the soil, but not all of it, your soil sample is probably loam.
How is Pottery Made?
People have been making pottery from clay for thousands of years. When it is wet, clay can be shaped. Round objects are formed by turning the wet clay on a pottery wheel. After it is formed and dried, the clay object is put into a kiln, which is a very hot oven. The clay object is fired in the kiln, which means the clay is heated to very high temperatures. Firing the clay removes all the water and produces a chemical reaction in the clay to make it hard.
From 1915 until the 1960s, many pottery products were made in the city of Medicine Hat, Alberta. The soil in the Medicine Hat region contains lots of clay. Also, local natural gas was used to heat the kilns. The potteries in Medicine Hat made dishes, bricks, tiles, and sewer pipes.
Figure B.3.10.8 – Pottery wheels are used to make round clay objects such as dishes.
Figure B.3.10.9 – Clay is heated to high temperatures to harden it.
Figure B.3.10.10 – Clay is used to make durable sewer pipes.
Watch More
Throwing Pottery
Watch this video to see how clay pottery is formed on a pottery wheel and how clay dishes are fired and glazed.
Watch this video to see how clay pottery is formed on a pottery wheel and how clay dishes are fired and glazed.
Cleaning by Soil
After rain falls, water travels downward through the soil. Eventually, the water reaches a layer of rock with little holes. The rock is called an aquifer, and it acts similar to a sponge and holds lots of water. The water in this layer underground is called groundwater. In rural areas, people dig or bore wells to the groundwater to obtain drinking water.
Before water reaches the aquifer, it goes through the soil. This involves the important function of soil as a filter. If water on the surface is polluted by substances such as manure or fertilizer, the soil helps remove these substances as the water moves downward into the groundwater. Pollution particles are trapped physically in the soil. Also, bacteria in the soil help break harmful substances into non-harmful ones. Well water should be tested for suitability as drinking water because sometimes the soil is unable to remove all undesirable impurities.
After rain falls, water travels downward through the soil. Eventually, the water reaches a layer of rock with little holes. The rock is called an aquifer, and it acts similar to a sponge and holds lots of water. The water in this layer underground is called groundwater. In rural areas, people dig or bore wells to the groundwater to obtain drinking water.
Before water reaches the aquifer, it goes through the soil. This involves the important function of soil as a filter. If water on the surface is polluted by substances such as manure or fertilizer, the soil helps remove these substances as the water moves downward into the groundwater. Pollution particles are trapped physically in the soil. Also, bacteria in the soil help break harmful substances into non-harmful ones. Well water should be tested for suitability as drinking water because sometimes the soil is unable to remove all undesirable impurities.
Figure B.3.10.11 – Wells are dug to access fresh drinking water.
Figure B.3.10.12 – Pumps are installed on wells to bring groundwater to the surface.
Figure B.3.10.13 – Dirty, polluted water is not safe to drink.
Watch More
Soil as a Water Filter
Watch this video to see animations of the ability of soil to filter water.
Watch this video to see animations of the ability of soil to filter water.
Try It!
Soil Filter
In this experiment, you will test how well various types of soil filter substances dissolved in water.
Materials:
In this experiment, you will test how well various types of soil filter substances dissolved in water.
Materials:
- sand
- soil
- 2 funnels
- 6 coffee filters
-
red powdered drink (like Kool-Aid)
- water
- juice pitcher
- 2 tall glass cups
-
measuring cup
Instructions:
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Put the red powdered drink into a juice pitcher. Fill the juice pitcher halfway with water to dissolve the powder.
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Layer 3 coffee filters together. Fold the coffee filters into a cone shape. Put the coffee filter cone inside a funnel.
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Fill the coffee filter cone in the funnel half full of sand.
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Place the tip of the sand funnel into the top of a tall glass cup.
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Measure ½ cup of red liquid juice. Pour the juice slowly over the sand in the funnel. Be careful not to overflow the funnel. Let the juice drain through the sand for 20 minutes.
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Repeat Steps 1 to 5, but use soil instead of sand.
- Observe the water that trickles through both the sand and soil filters. How is the water different from the juice you poured in the top?
Questions:
Think about the following questions very carefully. Then, type or write your answers. After you have your answers, click the questions for feedback.
Think about the following questions very carefully. Then, type or write your answers. After you have your answers, click the questions for feedback.
With the sand filter, you should have observed that the water stayed a bright red colour, similar to the original powdered juice.
With the soil filter, you should have observed that the water was a paler colour compared to the original powdered juice.
The water coming from the soil filter was a lighter colour. As the water passed through the soil, the soil trapped, or filtered, some of the powdered drink particles. This experiment shows how soil acts as a filter to take harmful substances from water
before it reaches groundwater aquifers.
Make sure you have understood everything in this lesson. Use the Self-Check below, and the Self-Check & Lesson Review Tips to
guide your learning.
Unit B Lesson 10 Self-Check
Instructions
Complete the following 6 steps.
Don't skip steps – if you do them in order, you will confirm your
understanding of this lesson and create a study bank for the future.
- DOWNLOAD the self-check quiz by clicking here.
- ANSWER all the questions on the downloaded quiz in the spaces provided. Think carefully before typing your answers. Review this lesson if you need to. Save your quiz when you are done.
- COMPARE your answers with the suggested "Self-Check Quiz Answers" below. WAIT! You didn't skip step 2, did you? It's very important to carefully write out your own answers before checking the suggested answers.
-
REVISE your quiz answers if you need to. If you answered all the questions correctly, you can skip this step. Revise means to change, fix, and add extra notes if you need to. This quiz is NOT FOR MARKS, so it is perfectly OK to correct
any mistakes you made. This will make your self-check quiz an excellent study tool you can use later.
- SAVE your quiz to a folder on your computer, or to your Private Files. That way you will know where it is for later studying.
- CHECK with your teacher if you need to. If after completing all these steps you are still not sure about the questions or your answers, you should ask for more feedback from your teacher. To do this, post in the Course Questions Forum, or send your teacher an email. In either case, attach your completed quiz and ask; "Can you look at this quiz and give me some feedback please?" They will be happy to help you!
Self-Check Time!
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Self-Check Quiz Answers
Click each of the suggested answers below, and carefully compare your answers to the suggested answers.
If you have not done the quiz yet – STOP – and go back to step 1 above. Do not look at the answers without first trying the questions.
Biotic materials come from living things. Biotic materials in soil are decaying organic material. This includes dead plants and animals and their wastes.
Abiotic materials come from non-living things. Abiotic materials in soil are crushed rocks, water, and air.
The soil is wet and sticky, so it probably contains a lot of clay. Plants have difficulty growing in heavy clay soil that has little organic material. Sheep manure compost contains decaying organic animal wastes. Adding sheep manure to the garden
helps to produce a soil that has more loam and less clay.
Likely, the soil in the flower beds is sandy and drains water well, drying the soil quickly. If water does not stay in the soil long enough for plants to absorb it, the plants cannot grow well.
Soil acts as an effective filter for pollutants. If more areas with soil and plants are developed in the city, the soil will prevent many pollutants from reaching the river. The soil will help filter the pollutants physically, and bacteria in
the soil will help remove pollutants, too.