Procedure
1. For this experiment, a location where limestone bedrock is exposed or where a storm drain releases, or where there is the movement of water that causes erosion is ideal.
2. Gather Materials: soil auger, 9 bags per collection round, 3 flags, Sharpies, soil chemical test kit, 30 meter measuring tape, goggles, gloves and compass.
3. Label bags with distance from the water source: (for example, if it is a hillside, B=bottom of the hill and farthest to the water source, M=middle of the hill and halfway from the water source, T= top of the hill and closest to the water source) Also, label bags with the day they were collected. There should be nine bags per day. Three soil samples should be taken at each location.
4. Label 3 flags “B1”, “B2”, and “B3” for Bottom Plot #1, Bottom Plot #2, Bottom Plot #3.
5. Mark 3 locations the farthest from the water source 10 meters apart with flags B1, B2, and B3.
6. At location B1, use a vertical soil core to take a soil sample 15 cm length by 2.5 cm width, and place in the corresponding bag.
7. Repeat step six for location B2 and B3 using a clean soil core.
8. From
location B1 walk approximately half the distance from the
water source. Take a soil sample 15
cm length by 2.5 cm width and place in the M1 bag.
9. Repeat step 8 from locations B2 and B3, and use the corresponding bags M2 and M3.
10. From location M1, walk to the point closest to the water source and take a soil sample 15 cm length by 2.5 cm width and place in the T1 bag.
11. Repeat step 10 from locations M2 and M3, and use the corresponding bags T2 and T3.
12. Steps 6-11 need to be taken on the same day at the same time for one round of your experiment.
13. Use a chemical test kit to perform soil extractions and calcium tests for each soil sample on the same day at the same time.
14. Record Data (in ppm) in the data table.
15. Repeat steps 2-3 followed by 6-14 for the remaining days. Make sure each sample's bag has the day on which it was taken labeled. A minimum of three day's soil samples must be collected...however, the more samples, the more data.
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