Florida Poly student examines soil samples in the on-campus garden.
Learning Outcomes
Student will be able to identify the nutrient components of fertile soil
Students will be able to explain what best management practices (BMP) are
Student will be able to design a custom blended fertilizer
Student will understand how soil conservation methods can protect the soil and its
fertility
Materials
Goggles
Distilled Water (400 mL/1 pint for 10 tests)
Stopwatch
Plastic spoon
1 cup each of various soil samples (3 samples)
Extraction Tube
Pipette
3 test tubes
Commercial Soil Test (*Rapitest Kit used in this exercise)
How It Works
Nutrient rich soil is needed to grow healthy crops to provide food for humans and
animals. Soils contain phosphate and other nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium.
Unfortunately, not all soils are naturally nutrient rich. When farmers apply nutrients,
either in organic or mineral form, it is to fertilize the soil, not the plant. Soil
testing and other diagnostic tools should be used. If the nutrients in the soil are
already sufficient, adding fertilizers is more likely to be damaging environmentally,
as well as economically wasteful. Adding the correct nutrients to make a custom blended
fertilizer is a best management practice (BMP). In this activity, students will test
the nutrient composition of local soil samples.
Activity
Phosphorus Test
Nitrogen Test
Potassium Test
pH Test
Assessment
What are the components of fertile soil?
How can soil conservation methods protect the soil and its fertility?
What causes soil degradation (soil becomes unfertile)?
What would happen to crops if they were grown in unfertile soil? What would happen
to the organisms that consume them?
How have modern farming practices replaced the traditional methods of farming?
What are the foods produced in the greatest amounts throughout the world?
How has the demand for food worldwide affected the demand for fertilizers for soil?
How has the green revolution increased yields of new crop varieties through modern
agricultural techniques?
