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Soils Lab

The document outlines Lab 3 for GEOG1011, focusing on soil texture, pedogenic regimes, state soils, and U.S. soil orders. It includes instructions for using a soil texture triangle to classify soils based on sand, silt, and clay percentages, as well as activities related to identifying state soils and their characteristics. Additionally, it prompts students to explore soil orders across different U.S. regions and their environmental contexts.

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6 views6 pages

Soils Lab

The document outlines Lab 3 for GEOG1011, focusing on soil texture, pedogenic regimes, state soils, and U.S. soil orders. It includes instructions for using a soil texture triangle to classify soils based on sand, silt, and clay percentages, as well as activities related to identifying state soils and their characteristics. Additionally, it prompts students to explore soil orders across different U.S. regions and their environmental contexts.

Uploaded by

fabersarah57
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: ________________________________

GEOG1011 – Physical Geography: Landforms

Lab 3: Soils
Part A. Soil Texture
Soil texture refers to the sizes of the mineral materials in a soil. All soils can be classified by the amount
of sand (<2 to 0.05 millimeters), silt (0.05 to 0.002 millimeters), and clay (<0.002 millimeters) found in
them. The soil texture triangle provides the names to classify soils with varying percentages of sand
(bottom side of triangle), silt (right side of triangle), and clay (left side of triangle.)

All possible combinations of percentages, ranging from 0 to 100, of the 3 different size grades can be
plotted as points. It is possible to follow any two component percentages to find the nominal name for the
soil type.

For example, if a sample is: 30% sand, 30% clay, and 40% silt
You can determine its soil type as follows:
 Find the 30% line along the bottom of the triangle (sand); follow this slanted line UP and to the
LEFT, following the orientation of the numbers along the axis.
 STOP where it intersects with the horizontal line for 30% clay.
 You will notice this intersection point is also where the 40% line for silt joins the first two lines.
 This point where all three lines intersect is in the area marked clay loam.

Guided Practice: Watch a tutorial video on how to use the soil texture triangle. (Video length is 2:21).
1. Use the soil texture triangle, developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to complete the
associated tables.

a. Plot the following soil textures using the soil texture triangle. Number 1 has been filled in for you
as an example. Record the soil type in the table.

Number Soil Type % Sand % Silt % Clay


1 Silty Clay 14 41 45

10 85 5

72 6 22

21 14 65

42 47 11

50 10 40

b. Fill in the table based on the location of the soil samples, marked A through E on the soil triangle.
Determine what percentage of each of the three textures makes up in each sample. The sum of
the percentages of sand, silt and clay should always equal 100%. Record the soil type in the table.

Sample Soil Type % Sand % Silt % Clay


A

Soil Texture and Related Properties


Property Sand Silt Clay
Soil Fertility: Ability to sustain Moderate-
Low Moderate-High
plant growth High
Porosity: Air spaces (gaps High Moderate- Low
between particles) High
Permeability: Ability for water to High Moderate- Low
flow through the soil High
Water Holding Capacity: Ability Low Moderate- High
to hold water against the force of High
gravity

c. Loam is the ideal soil texture for most vegetable crops. Using the soil texture triangle, determine
the relative amounts of silt, sand, and clay for loam soils. Use the table on Soil Texture and
Related Properties to describe the characteristics you would expect to find in loam soils.
Part B. Pedogenic Regimes
The word “pedogenic” refers to soil-forming parameters, i.e., the environmental conditions that contribute
to the development of soils. These conditions are based on physical, chemical, and biological processes
in place, and are most often controlled by climate and latitudinal factors. Five major pedogenic regimes
exist globally and are described in Chapter 12 of your text.

2. Using the information from your text and the lecture materials, complete the table below.

Pedogenic Prominent Global Associated Soil Vegetation


Regime Characteristics Locations Climate Characteristics Types
(List two) Types
Laterization

Podzolizatio

Gleization

Calcification
Salinization

Part C. State Soils


Each of the 50 states has named a state soil as a representative of the state’s soil composition. Using the
Soil Taxonomy PDF provided in D2L, you will inspect soil of two states (Colorado and a state of your
choice), and Puerto Rico to make comparisons. To find out a state soil

Step 1: Identify a state soil of your choice


Go to https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/education-and-teaching-materials/state-soils
Select “Link to PDF Files” under Fact Sheets
Scroll through the three pages of PDF files to find the state of your choice
Fill in the table for your state in the first column of the table

Step 2: Use the uploaded PDF for Colorado to fill in column two.
Soils > Lab Assignments > Lab Videos and Links > Colorado State Soil

Step 3: Use the uploaded PDF for Puerto Rick to fill in column three.
Soils > Lab Assignments > Lab Videos and Links > Puerto Rico Representative Soil

To learn more, go to the USDA Official Soil Series Descriptions OSDs at:
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/data-and-reports/official-soil-series-descriptions-osd

Under the section Database Access, select View Now from the “View OSD by Series Name.”
Type your state’s series name into the search bar and click submit.

3. Complete the table for each location.


 For the last row, refer to the 12 Soil Orders pictured in Global Distribution of Major Soils
from your text. Look at the color, texture, and read the descriptions in the text to
determine which soil order is most like the soil you used in the table.
State Names
_____________ Colorado Puerto Rico

Soil Series Name

Brief Description
of the Soil

Use for the soil


(agriculture,
forestry, etc.)

Native plant
communities

Where is it found
in the
state/territory?

Using the 12 soil


orders, which
profile does this
soil type most
closely resemble?
Part D. U.S. Soil Orders
4. Refer to the Soil Taxonomy link posted in D2L under Lab Videos and Links for this module. You
will be using the maps (starting on page 873) to answer questions about the soil orders in the United
States.

a. Which soil order is dominant in the Great Plains region?

b. Which soil order is dominant in the Midwest?

c. Which soil order is dominant in the southeastern United States?

d. Which soil order is dominant in New England?

e. Which soil order is dominant in the southwestern United States?

f. Which is the only state in which gelisols are found?

g. Which is the only state in which oxisols are found?

h. Name six states in which andisols can be found.

i) What accounts for their limited location (i.e. how are andisols formed)?

i. Which soil orders can be found in Colorado?

j. What landform accounts for the extensive region of inceptisols in Nort Carolina, Tennessee,
Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania?

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