Introduction

Most land is covered in soil, which is a loose surface substance. It is made up of both biological and
inorganic particles. Soil is a source of water and nutrients for agricultural plants, as well as structural
support and critical minerals. Soils help roots to flourish by supporting them and keeping them erect.
Chemical and physical qualities of soils vary significantly.

Kellogg (1980) stated, "There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved
together". Soils offer oxygen for root-to-atmosphere gas exchange. Plants are protected by soils from
erosion and other harmful physical, biological, and chemical processes. The analysis of a soil sample
to evaluate nutrient content, composition, and other characteristics such as acidity or pH level is
generally referred to as a soil test. The depth and timing of a sample may alter results because soil
nutrients vary with depth and soil components change with time.

A soil test is important for a variety of reasons, including optimizing crop production, protecting the
environment from contamination due to runoff and leaching of excess fertilizers, assisting in the
diagnosis of plant culture problems, improving the nutritional balance of the growing media, and
saving money and energy by applying only the amount of fertilizer required. Potential nutrient
deficits, pH imbalances, or excess soluble salts can all be detected using pre-plant media studies.

This laboratory report is designed to assist students in calculating the soil's carrying capacity and rate
of settlement, which will provide them with the information they need to decide whether the soil is
strong or weak. Strong soil is soil that does not expand or contract excessively in response to moisture
and has a good density, indicating that it will not compress or settle significantly after construction.
The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of soil testing in various fields.

Soil Testing Results

TEST 1 AND 2: SOIL-TEXTURE TEST AND BOTTLE TEST

Area 1

SAMPLE PERCENTAGE TEXTURAL CLASS

SAND SILT CLAY
1 20% 10% 70% Clay Loam, Moderately fine
texture
2 94% 2% 4% Sand, Coarse Texture
3 95% 2% 3% Sand, Coarse Texture

Figure 1. Soil-texture and Bottle Test for the Samples of Area 1

-The table shows that there are two out of three samples that shows sand that has coarse texture,
while the remaining one sample shows as clay loam with a moderately fine texture within Area 1.
Data were gathered and measured approximately, majority of the percentage of Sample 1 shows 70%
of clay and the least percentage is silt with 10%, Sample 2 shows a majority of 94% sand and least
percentage of silt which is 2%, and Sample 3 shows that majority of its content shows 95% and the
least percentage shows 2% of silt.

Area 2

SAMPLE PERCENTAGE TEXTURAL CLASS

SAND SILT CLAY
1 90% 5% 5% Sand, Coarse Texture
 2 90% 2% 8% Sand, Coarse Texture
3 93% 2% 5% Sand, Coarse Texture

Figure 2. Soil-texture and Bottle Test for the Samples of Area 2

-The majority of the samples in Area 2 are revealed to be sand in nature, with a coarse texture,
according to the table. They were all measured roughly, and data shows that the majority of sand is
present in all of the samples, with around 90% in Sample 1 and Sample 2 and 93 percent in Sample 3.
The table, on the other hand, demonstrates that silt has the lowest percentage among the three
samples, with Sample 1 having just 5% and Samples 2 and 3 having only 2%.

Area 3

SAMPLE PERCENTAGE TEXTURAL CLASS

SAND SILT CLAY
1 91% 7% 2% Sand, Coarse Texture
2 70% 20% 10% Loamy Sand, Coarse Texture
3 50% 30% 20% Sandy Loam, Moderately
Coarse Texture

Figure 3. Soil-texture and Bottle Test for the Samples of Area 3

-The tables shows that there is a variation of soil texture that can be seen in area 3. Sample 1 shows
that the majority is sand with 91% and least percentage of silt with 7%, that can be analyzed as sand
with coarse texture. In Sample 2, sand still has the highest percentage of soil composition with 70%
and clay has the lowest with 10%. Sample 3 shows a majority of sand with 50% and clay as the lowest
with 20%.

Area 4

SAMPLE PERCENTAGE TEXTURAL CLASS

SAND SILT CLAY
1 93% 3.5% 3.5% Sand, Coarse Texture
2 80% 10% 10% Silty Loam, Medium Texture
3 64% 20% 16% Loam, Medium Texture

Figure 4. Soil-texture and Bottle Test for the Samples of Area 3

-Table 4 shows the composition of soil that is tested by the 3 random samples in Area 4. It can be seen
that, like area 3, there is a variation of soil content. In sample 1, it shows the majority is sand with
93% and silt and clay both has the least percentage with just 3.5% each. Sample 2 shows that there is
80% of sand and 10% of both silt and clay. Sample 3 shows that majority of its content is sand with
64% and clay as the least in its content with 16%.
 TEST 3: PERCOLATION TEST
Area 1

SAMPLE TIME EVALUATION

1 48mins and 20secs/1hr 28mins GOOD
and 10secs
2 2mins and 54secs/19mins and GOOD
42secs
3 3mins and 11secs/22mins and GOOD
27secs

Figure 5. Percolation Test for the Samples of Area 1

-The table shows that majority of samples in Area 1 has a good evaluation in the percolation test.
Sample 1 recorded 48 minutes and 20 seconds on the first trial while 1 hour, 28 minutes and 10
seconds on the second trial. 2 minutes and 54 seconds was recorded on the first try of Sample 2, and
19 minutes and 42 seconds on the second trial. Sample 3, on the other hand, recorded 3 minutes and
11 seconds on the first trial, and 22 minutes and 27 seconds on the second trial. Sample 1 has the
longest percolation rate while Sample 2 has the shortest.

Area 2

SAMPLE TIME EVALUATION

1 3mins and 14secs/ 21mins and GOOD
38secs
2 2mins and 32secs/ 19mins and GOOD
11secs
3 4mins and 20secs/ 25mins and GOOD
54secs

Figure 6. Percolation Test for the Samples of Area 2

-In Area 2, majority of Samples has a good evaluation in the percolation test. Sample 1 recorded 3
minutes and 14 seconds on the first trial while 21 minutes and 38 seconds on the second trial. 2
minutes and 32 seconds was recorded on the first try of Sample 2, and 19 minutes and 11 seconds on
the second trial. Sample 3, on the other hand, recorded 4 minutes and 20 seconds on the first trial,
and 25 minutes and 54 seconds on the second trial. The longest percolation rate is in Sample 3 while
the shortest is in Sample 2.

Area 3

SAMPLE TIME EVALUATION

1 3mins and 12secs/ 6mins and GOOD
38secs
2 2mins and 26secs/ 8mins and GOOD
42secs
3 4mins and 18secs/ 11mins and GOOD
27secs

Figure 7. Percolation Test for the Samples of Area 3

-The table shows that majority of Samples in Area 1 has a good evaluation in the percolation test.
Sample 1 recorded 3 minutes and 12 seconds on the first trial while 6 minutes and 38 seconds on the
second trial. 2 minutes and 26 seconds was recorded on the first try of Sample 2, and 8 minutes and
42 seconds on the second trial. Sample 3, on the other hand, recorded 4 minutes and 18 seconds on
the first trial, and 11 minutes and 27 seconds on the second trial. Sample 3 has the longest
percolation rate while Sample 1 has the shortest.

Area 4

SAMPLE TIME EVALUATION

1 3mins and 14secs/ 14mins and GOOD
38secs
2 2mins and 32secs/ 15mins and GOOD
11secs
3 4mins and 20secs/ 14mins and GOOD
54secs

Figure 8. Percolation Test for the Samples of Area 4

-In Area 4, majority of Samples has a good evaluation in the percolation test. Sample 1 recorded 3
minutes and 14 seconds on the first trial while 14 minutes and 38 seconds on the second trial. 2
minutes and 32 seconds was recorded on the first try of Sample 2, and 8 minutes and 42 seconds on
the second trial. Sample 3, on the other hand, recorded 4 minutes and 20 seconds on the first trial,
and 14 minutes and 54 seconds on the second trial. Sample 2 has the longest percolation rate while
Sample 1 has the shortest.

TEST 4: BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY TEST (WORM TEST)

Area 1

SAMPLE NUMBER OF WORMS

1 2
2 0
3 0

Figure 9. Biological Activity Test for the Samples of Area 1

-The table shows that there is only a few biological activity that can be seen in area 1, as evident in
sample 1 with only 2 detected number of worms. Sample 2 and 3 shows no sign of biological activity.
Area 2

SAMPLE NUMBER OF WORMS

1 0
2 0
3 0

Figure 10. Biological Activity Test for the Samples of Area 2

-In area 2, there is no significant biological organisms that can be seen within all of the three random
samples.
Area 3

SAMPLE NUMBER OF WORMS

1 0
 2 0
3 0

Figure 11. Biological Activity Test for the Samples of Area 3

-The table shows that there is a zero amount of biological activity that can be seen in area 3.
Area 4

SAMPLE NUMBER OF WORMS

1 0
2 0
3 0

Figure 12. Biological Activity Test for the Samples of Area 4

-Area 4, just like the other areas that have been mentioned, shows a zero percentage of biological
activity.

TEST 5: pH TEST

Area 1

SAMPLE pH ACID, BASE OR NEUTRAL

1 7.7 BASE
2 7.9 BASE
3 8.0 BASE

Figure 13. pH Test for the Samples of Area 1

-The table shows that majority of the samples in area 1 are base. Sample 3 shows the highest level of
pH with a rate of 8.0pH while the least level was shown in sample 3 with a rate of 7.7pH.
Area 2

SAMPLE pH ACID OR BASE

1 6.5 ACID
2 7.2 BASE
3 7.5 BASE

Figure 14. pH Test for the Samples of Area 2

-In area 2, it shows that is has acid and base composition but base is more dominant. Sample 1
appears to have the least level of 6.5pH with acid classification. Samples 2 and 3, on the other hand,
appears to be bases, with being sample 3 as the highest in pH level of 7.5 pH.

Area 3

SAMPLE pH ACID OR BASE

1 6.9 ACID
2 7.2 BASE
3 7.4 BASE
 Figure 15. pH Test for the Samples of Area 3

-In area 3, it shows that is has acid and base composition but base is more dominant. Sample 1
appears to have the least level of 6.9pH with acid classification. Samples 2 and 3, on the other hand,
appears to be bases, with being sample 3 as the highest in pH level of 7.4 pH.

Area 4

SAMPLE pH ACID OR BASE

1 7.3 BASE
2 7.3 BASE
3 7.0 NEUTRAL

Figure 16. pH Test for the Samples of Area 4

-The table shows that two out of three samples have base composition while the remaining one is
neutral. Samples 2 and 3 have 7.3pH level that appears to be the highest. The lowest pH level was
shown in sample 3 with 7.0pH.

DISCUSSION

The sand contains no nutrition. It is impossible to add fertilizers into it because sand grains can not
absorb fertilizers; therefore, all helpful elements are washed away into the lower levels, where plant
roots no longer exist. The moisture retention of sandy soil is poor. That is why, despite being
frequently watered, the plants are continually thirsty and dry out. Temperature variations affect
loose, air-filled soil. The earth is supercooled on cold nights, and it freezes solidly in the winter. The
roots of sensitive plants frequently overheat and burn in hot weather. Humus cannot be retained in a
soil with a weak structure. The entire fertile layer is frequently eroded from the surface by strong
winds. (Dementiev, 2019)

Worms play an important part in plant growth because the presence of worms in a soil indicates that
the soil is suitable for planting. Plant nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium
are concentrated by worms into forms that are considerably more accessible to plants than those in
the parent materials. Because vermicast has consistently boosted seed germination, seedling growth
and development, and plant productivity, it has far outperformed the simple conversion of mineral
nutrients into more plant-available form. (Integrity Soils, 2015)