CIVIL ENGINEERING PROGRAM

Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges

2nd Semester, A.Y. 2023-2024

Activity

RAW SCORE
Name : Ryan Khristian L. Alegre CN.: 4555
TRANSMUTED SCORE

General Instructions. Read each instruction carefully. Clear and legible handwriting is crucial for accurate
checking
and scoring, so be sure to write your answers neatly to receive positive feedback.
Activity #1
Date Submitted: ______________________

Exercise

There are many different factors in soil that affect plant health, including nutrient availability, temperature,
water, salinity, etc. The pH of soil affects nutrient availability, and therefore has a great influence on plant
health. Soil with a pH below 7 is acidic, while soil with a pH above 7 is alkaline. The optimal pH range for
most plants is between pH 5.5 and 7.0, however, many plants have adapted to flourish at pH values
outside this range.

Soil pH varies by region because it can be affected by factors such as climate (temperature and rainfall),
mineral content, and soil texture. High amounts of rainfall can result in more acidic soil. The same minerals
that affect water hardness, calcium and magnesium, can also affect the pH of soil. Soils with a lot of clay
and organic matter have more buffering capacity than sandy soils and remain at a more neutral pH.

Thus, just like water hardness levels vary across the U.S., so does soil pH. Try searching online for a map
of soil pH across the U.S. to determine what the average might be in your state. Once you have a rough
idea, it’s time to do some testing.

Materials:
 Distilled water
 2 cups of soil from each of 2 or 3 different locations
 Teaspoon
 Digging tool
 2-3 Ziplock bags
 pH 1-14 test strips
 4-6 Plastic cups
 2-3 Coffee filters
 Stir stick or spoon
 Activity notebook

Instructions:

1. When selecting locations for your soil samples, think about the surroundings and how they might
affect the soil pH. For example, soil near a water source may have a different pH than soil in a dry
location. You might also sample garden soil or soil near different plants to see how they might affect
the pH. Get creative and try to find unique soil samples.

2. Using a garden trowel or other digging tool, dig about 2 inches down into the soil. Shovel 2 cups of
soil into a ziplock bag, and label the bag with the location. Observe each location you sample, and
make notes in your laboratory notebook. Wipe your trowel clean after collecting each soil sample to
avoidcross-contamination.
 CIVIL ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges
2nd Semester, A.Y. 2023-2024

3. Once you have collected your samples, it’s time to test them. For every soil sample you collected,
you’ll need to place a couple of teaspoons of soil into a plastic cup. Label each plastic cup just like
you did the ziplock bags.

4. Fill each cup with distilled water so it just covers the soil. Distilled water will not change the soil pH.
Stir, shake or swirl the sample vigorously for one minute. Clean your stirrer in between each soil
sample to avoid cross-contamination.

5. Now, you’ll need to let each soil sample rest for at least 30 minutes.

6. Next, you’ll need a fresh set of plastic cups for each soil sample. Again, label each plastic cup, so
you know where the sample came from. Hold a coffee filter over the unused cup, and pour the liquid
soil sample over the filter. This will keep the soil chunks out, but will allow the water sample through.
Repeat for each soil sample.

Using a pH 1-14 test strip, dip the strip into the soil water and remove. Immediately compare to the
included color chart to get a pH reading. Test strips are only good for one-time use, so you will need a fresh
test strip for each soil sample. Record your results in your laboratory notebook. What were the differences
in plant life, animal life, water sources, etc. at each soil sample location? How do you think that affected the
soil pH? Did you have any acidic soil samples or any alkaline soil samples? Do you think the time of year
affected your results? How might different seasons change the soil pH?

- Soil pH plays a crucial role in plant health, affecting nutrient availability and overall growth. The
optimal pH range for most plants is between 5.5 and 7.0, but many plants can adapt to thrive at pH
values outside this range. Soil pH varies by region due to factors such as climate, mineral content,
and soil texture. High rainfall can lead to more acidic soil, while minerals like calcium and
magnesium can also influence pH. Soils with clay and organic matter have more buffering capacity
and tend to maintain a more neutral pH. Testing soil pH is essential for understanding its impact on
plant and animal life, water sources, and more. The results can provide insights into the suitability of
different locations for specific plants and how seasonal variations may affect soil pH levels