Troubleshooting

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Having Trouble?
We have answers!!
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General Problems

Problem: Having trouble digging the hole, there are too many roots.

 Answer: Use a big shovel that you can jump on to break the roots.

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Problem: During the pH test after adding 5 drops of Soil Flocculating Reagen, the soil isn't sinking to the bottom.

Answer: Put the liquid you have already into a microcentrifuge tube and take another tube to balance out the weight in the microcentrifuge.    

                                

Problem: I'm using a digital microscope, what are the new measurements and equation I need to use?

Answer: Instead of using 7 µl of methyl-green stain, you are going to use 3 µl.
                   When you look through your microscope, your light quantity should be 60X instead of 40X.
                   The equation you need to use is:
                                [(per field of view at 60X) x (total ml of water used) x 2578] ÷ (grams of sifted soil) = # of protozoa per gram of soil.

 

 

 

 

Problem: How do I make sure the protozoa are not reproducing?

Answer: Place the soil from the soil cores into a refrigerator for 24 hours.
                  After rehydrating the sifted soil, you need to let it sit for 7 hours; if you're unable to do the Uhlig extraction right away, you need to place the hydrated soil into the refrigerator until you're able to do the extraction.
                After the second filtrate, if you can't put the liquid onto a slide right away, you need to put the cups into the refrigerator until you can do the slides with the microscope.

 

 

 

 

 

Problem: I don't know which chemical test kit to use when doing a pH test.

Answer: Use the LaMotte Combination Soil Test Kit (Model: STH-14 code: 5010-01)

 

 

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Safety Problems

 

Problem: I'm worried I might have a tick on me.

Answer: Search your body for ticks. Check your hair, arms, legs, all over. Don't forget behind your ears. If you do find a tick, remove it with tweezers.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/Lyme/images/TickRemoval_92107.gif

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Problem: I'm getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.

Answer: Very simple, it's called BUG SPRAY!! Spray all over your body and clothes. Don't forget your face and neck. 

 

Problem: How do I avoid getting a centipede bite and if a centipede does bite me, what do I do about it?

Answer: To prevent from being bit by a centipede, you should use gloves such as gardening gloves. If a centipede does bite you, the best way to take care of it is by using some type of medication, we recommend StingEze®. 

 

 

Problem: I'm working in the lab and I'm scared that I'm going to get chemicals onto my body.

Answer: Wear closed toed shoes, goggles, and lab gloves at ALL TIMES!!

    

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Contamination Problems

Problem: How do I prevent contamination?

Answer: You wash your soil cores and shovels after each use
                   You label all petri dishes, cups, and plastic bags
                   Use a new mesh sheet and a new plastic cup for each sample when sifting the soil

                  Use new plastic cups and mesh for the Uhlig extraction. Wash them both when done.

                  Wash your metal spatula in between scraping each petri dish

                 Use new filter paper during your 2nd filtrate in each funnel

                 Wash your funnel in the second filtrate after each use

                 Use a new transfer pipet each time you transfer filtrated liquid onto a microscope slide

                Use a new microscope slide for each cup of filtered liquid

                Use new microscope cover glass for each new microscope slide 

                    

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