ning layer of earth's crust 4 and humus conta estrial plant life. jams, provides anchorage and absorb water and minerals for plants. 3, The proportion of different components of soil is generally : mineral mater 40%, organic re refot, soil moistare-25%, sol 25% and living organisms 2°° variable. ‘ine the physi ‘cal characteristics of 4, Presence of different tyPes ‘of mineral partic ble “sil Diterent types of mineral particles are— Sl. No. | Diameter of particles | Name of particles oe = som Gravel z : 4 7 = Fine gravel -—t fees | Coarse sand e { jenn | Fine sand | sit | rte er n Clay Principal com xponents of soil ; fz Larsiossre fsa particles are sand, si ‘ re of soil. Act , silt and. clay - cording to their textural characteristics "ois are Bene a “lowe ified as follows— Soll class | Proportion ot fewer f different components (%) ni silt Clay Characteristics ‘Sandy 85-100 os, | 0-10 Sand dominating, poor nutrient and water holding capacity, not suitable for plant growth. 6s crust inerals ganic cs of Study of Soil Samples | 7 Proportion of different components (%) Characteristics o.| Soll lass et Ne. = Sand silt. Clay 020 | Send dominating, ess water > = = bail holding capacity, moderate for plane growth, u : 727 | Good alr. and water movement, : _— lat — moderate water holding Capa- dy, best for plan growth : : G27 | Sit dominating, less ar and = Ser heen ~ oat water movement, not suitable for plant growth oa 30300 | 042 | sik dominating, poor sir and 7 ~ 7 water movement, not suitable for plant growth. 6 [Gavin] 204s | 2553 2740 [Fine texture, moderate ar and water movement, suitable for plant growth, 7 clay 045 a0 | 40100 | Fine tenured, compact, poor air and water movement, not sutable for plant growth: Other important criteria that determine the productivity of soil are the presence of nutrients, soil moisture, air, pH and microorganisms in optimum, level. Humus increases soil air and inorganic nutrients, released from decomposition of organic matte. PH determines the type of soil microorganisms, solubility of different minerals and type of plants which grow. Plants grow best in neutral or slightly acidic soils. Slight acidity favours tree growth and slight alka- linity is helpful in growth of some crop plants and grasslands. 8}. er on + To study the texture of different soil samples. Requirements : Digger, polythene bags, hand lens, meshes eriment_No Humus of different pore size, measuring cylinder, water, beaker, test p Water tubes etc. Procedure : With a digger, collect soil sample from different sites like Go? field, garden, road side ete in polythene bags and bring them to the laboratory. Put about 100 g of soil in a 250 mi size measutin, Clay tsi. Fine sand Coarse sand ig cylinder, der well and let the soil Fig. 2.1 : Different layers formed i, by different types of soil articles their relative percentage. in water —_Laboratory Manua sf soil particles and feel between fingers a lens for the size ¢ Examine the soil sample under hamjried soil samples 0” ‘meshes of different pore sizes and in dry ag well as MOISE state. TN through . record the amount cof particles P' wards. Humus float on the water ones afte! fn in a tabular form as presented Observation * frst and lighter n soil particles settle OT : layers Percentage (%) __| Soil class fp texture | og silt Clay af? _so ire T. crop field soll 2. Garden soll | it 3. Road side soil | “, Kitchen garden soil 5, Fallow land soil wera 4 brought to the laboratory. 4. Soil samples should be separately packed an 1 ; 2 The thickness of layers formed by different particles in the soil should be carefully mea- sured. // | Experiment No. 22 Now er Objective : To study moisture content of different soil samples. Requirements : Digger, polythene bags, forceps, scalpel, beaker, burner, physical balance, crucibles, weight box etc. Procedure : - Collect soil samples from different sites of your locality, like crop field, road side, garden etc, in polythene bags and bring them to the laboratory. Take about 100 g of a soil sample in a dry crucible and weigh it, Record the initial Weight. Heat the crucible to about 90°C for 10 minutes over a gas bumer. Allow the ‘crucible to cool down and weigh. To make sure that all water from the sample is driven au te soil again. Cool and weigh it stzin Repeat it twice or thrice till the weight Constant. The difference in the ini- tial i ta and fal Weights of the soil represents Reply of water present in the soi "© Process for each soil sample. soil : ‘Crucible Fig. 2.2 : Heating of soll in crucible== study of Soil Samples 19 fble -N ach sample and the differen: ure content from the reac .ce between initial and final dings in the table for each Observation Note the initial and final weights of weights in a tabular form, Caleulate the mois soil sample. initial welght | Final weight [Moisture content Percentage of si, No. | Soll sample phen ales den eee i 2 : 3. 4, 5. Precaution : to the laboratory. 1, Soil samples should be separately packed and brought instant 2. Temperature for removal of moisture during heating should be controlled in a co range of 70-90°C. 3. Weight of the soil samples should be taken accurately. | Experiment No. 2.3 New Page Objective : To study the pH of different types of soil. Requirements : Soil samples from different sites of your locality, beaker, distilled water, funnel, filter paper, test tubes, pH papers of different range etc. cit, |} Shes iy (-AsTake water In a beaker qi! Mr vt 1 Hy | ©. Settle down th 1 Soll particles E. Filter off the solution F. Dip a small piece of pH : all piece of pH paper Fig. 2.3: Study the pH of different types of soll10 | Laboratory Manual of Biology add 50 ml of water to it and stir ie a i dawn the soil particles. Filter off the solution 2% ch the colour a + of broad range pH paper and mal a smal Pee This vill show an approximate pH. For procedure + F ake about 10 g of Soll fan hour to sett oan ina test tube. Dip a beaker, sampl mi of le H paper booklet. Tk can Nah he ou se ED 0 a tage IT paper of the value indicated by broad range Father acuracy, ake Pies OT the colour of the paper with the BH st er the pi paper and cp itn er more accurate value of PH of the soil sample. Repeat the H ‘booklet. This ; Mere Mh a ion Tabb e ‘ 7 att ation ns determined foreach soi sample and recorded in tabular form as given below pH ‘SI. No. Soil sample 7 2 : L Precaution : ave 1. Glass wares should be clean and dry. wl 2. Matching of colours with the pH booklet should be accurate. 3, Solutions of soil samples should be stirred well before allowing it to settle down. aw | ww Py Water Holding Capacity of Soil Introduction : Soil water is one of the most i tant i i istributic i meray ed ul imporan el factor in the distribution of biota. Soil felés Sigation is another source of ‘soil 7 The maximum amoun hold, after the stopp known as water Filter paper t of water a soil can Crop field soll age of gravitational flow, is holding” capacity or field 4 ‘0 study wate holding capaci Paci oil samples, ity ‘Water that drai rained through the soilStudy of Soil Samples 111 te anal ned with er papers are placed on two measuring cylinders: eoetvey, marked A and B fortwo differen sll samples~-crop field sotl and road side cl rsecte 100 g of dried soil of each sample are placed separately in two funne SE cing oylher water is poured in each funnel. Note the amount of filtered out w: when the dripping of water stops from the funnel. Observation and result: Tobte 6. Observe and record the result in a tabular form as shown below : ‘Amount of | Water holding ‘Amount of water Amount of| filtered out In | water retained | capacity of the water | the measuring | inthesoll soil in percentage poured (y)] cylinder (2) -2) | (y—2) / xx 100 Welght of Si. | Type of soll ne ig) No. [crop fed si] 2 [Rood side soi] | Conclusion: wey ¢¥ awa Crop field soil we higher water holding capacity than the road side soil. Crop field soil is fine textured whereas road side soil is sand dominating. Crop field soil is much better for plant growth than the road side soil. Precaution : 1. Soil sample used for the experiment should be perfectly dry. 2. Pour water gently in the funnel over the soil. 3. Measurements should be done accurately. AeVetA ire 1. What is soil? Ans. It is the uppermost well ground, weathered and humus containing layer of earth’s crust that Supports terrestrial plant life, It provides water, minerals and anchorage to plants, 2. What is pedology? Ans. The subject which deals with the study of soil, is called pedology. 3. What is pedogenesis? fins. The process of formation of sol, is called pedogenesis, It involves three Processes—weathering, humification and eluviation and illuviation. 4. What is texture of soil? fins It is the physical structure of soil which is due to size, i i 1 » Proportion and arrangement of its constituents. Three main types of soil textures are sandy, clay and loam. . 1 5. What is sandy soil? ns. The soil which has high igh Percentage (80% or more) of sand particles, th ing being si and clay. Water holding capacity of sandy soil is poo, Pn ihe Femaining being sit12 | Laboratory Manual of Biology ES nts clay oil? being silt, sand is ill fas, The sll whch hes high pereetage. (0 of ype te remaining little. Water holding capacity of clay soil is igh: "hydration. 8. Which soll is best for plant growth? fins. Loamy sol 9, What is humus? faz. It's dark brown amo matter that constitutes the organ 10, Whats humifation? fas. The process of formation of hum remains is place mainly through the activity of decomposer microorganisms | 41. Which type of soil can retain maximum amount of water? | fas. Clay soll 12, What is microfauna of soil? fas. It includes microorganisms like protozoans, rotifers, copepods, crustaceans, nematodes ete, in, aeration and phous substance formed by partial decomposition of plant and animal ic component of soil. juumification, It takes tus from raw organic remains, is called humification. It tak 13. What is litter? fas. Liter is partly decaying matter. The dead and decaying parts of plants form the litter. ; 14, What is water holding capacity? H fins, It isthe maximum amount of water held by the soil after the stoppage of gravitational flow. 4 Itis expressed per unit volume of dry soil 15. Which soil has very poor water holding capacity? Ans. Sandy soil 16. What is soil porosity? fs. The percentage of soil volume occupied by pore spaces, is called soil porosit sandy sol, 40% in loam soil, 30% in lay soil. Te faz What determines the water holding capacity of soil? is. The type of soil partic i sol Sil particles present and porosity of soil determines the water holding capacity of | 7 18. What is gravitational flow? fins, Water that percolate thro a What pH of soil ugh a soil due to gravitational force, is called gravitational flow. favours best plant growth? Le table for pla 8 capa asin clay, wl ate oe Plant BrOwth? n w Very litle air passa, ots of a is ire i P: f tee the app and in tum die out, Be, 0 the 1 te compositi 7 “Be Sn MBE of tay sit 50; Clay % = 7 97