Laboratory Exercise 1

Visiting a Farm and Assessing Soil Quality

I. Overview

A core principle of organic farming and gardening is to "feed the soil to nourish the
plant". Soil quality in turn affects crop performance (yield) and the resistance and resilience of
crop plants to pests and pathogens. The sustainable farming practices, including crop rotations,
soil amending and fertilizing, tillage, and irrigation techniques, should be used in concert to
improve and maintain the quality and health of agricultural soils.

II. Desired Learning Outcomes (DLO’s)

At the end of this laboratory exercise, the students will be able to:
 Perform actual assessment of soil’s physical properties
 Identify the possible causes of soil deteriorations

III. Materials needed

 Notebook
 Pen
 Camera
 Laboratory activity worksheet

IV. Methods
1. Visit an unproductive farm nearby and assess the soil’s physical properties.
2. Enlist the possible causes of low productivity in relation to soil’s health

WORKSHEET

Location:
Date of Visit:

Agri211 Introduction to Organic Agriculture

Crop planted Farming practice Soil Texture Soil Color Soil Structure
(Conventional or
Organic farming)

Result of the Assessment Possible Causes Proposed Solutions

Agri211 Introduction to Organic Agriculture

V. References

Brown, Martha, Perez Jan, and Miles, Albie. 2015. Teaching Organic Farming
& Gardening. CASFS

Agri211 Introduction to Organic Agriculture