Connecting Classrooms to Soil

Transcription

1 JACKSON COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT Connecting Classrooms to Soil What is Soil? Soil is a dynamic resource that supports plant life. It is made up of different sized mineral particles (sand, silt, and clay), organic matter, and numerous species of living organisms. Soil provides several essential services and functions: Soil supports the growth and diversity of plants and animals by providing a physical, chemical, and biological environment for the exchange of water, nutrients, energy, and air. Soil regulates the distribution of rain or irrigation water between infiltration and runoff, and regulates the flow and storage of water and solutes, including nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, and other nutrients and compounds dissolved in the water. Soil Facts Kansas has over 300 identified soil types; the U.S. has over 17,000 The use of soil (agriculture industry) provides nearly $6 billion in annual income for Kansas alone Soil stores, moderates the release of, and cycles plant nutrients and other elements. Soil acts as a filter to protect the quality of water, air, and other resources. Soil supports structures and protects archeological treasures. Because soil is so vital to our survival, we need to learn to conserve the good soil quality for future generations use. Soil quality is the capacity of a specific kind of soil to function, within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and support human health and habitation. Changes in the capacity of soil to function are reflected in soil properties that change in response to management or climate. About 190 millions tons of topsoil are harmed by human activity in Kansas If 5 tons of topsoil were spread over 1 acre, the layer would be about the thickness of a dime Provided by the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service USDA NRCS Soil quality is important because management that enhances soil quality will benefit cropland, rangeland, and woodland productivity. Enhanced soil quality can help to reduce the onsite and offsite costs of soil erosion, improve water and nutrient use efficiencies, and ensure that the resource is sustained for future use. It also benefits water quality, air quality, and wildlife habitat. It takes about 500 years to develop an inch of topsoil under prairie grasses Earthworms in 1 acre can digest can digest 36 tons of soil in one year

2 Page 2 Soil Erosion Connecting Classrooms to Soil Provided in part by Soil Erosion in Agricultural Systems & United States Department of Agriculture: Natural Resources Conservation Service USDA NRCS Soil can be eroded by wind and water. High winds can blow away loose soils from flat or hilly terrain. Water erosion generally occurs only on slopes, and its severity increases with the severity of the slope. Above shows just a few of the examples of erosion found in Jackson County. Below are some of the ways that the Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service can help to stop and/or possibly fix these erosion problems by cost-sharing with landowners to install these practices. Grassed waterways are strips of grass seeded in areas of cropland where water concentrates or flows off of a field. Filter strips are small areas or strips of permanent vegetation along perennial streams designed to intercept pollutants and control stream bank erosion. Terraces are a type of earth embankment that are constructed across a slope. They are used to conserve rainfall and help control erosion. There are numerous types but the most commonly used ones are tile outlet and gradient.

3 Page 3 Start Soil Texture By Feel Flow Chart Provided by: United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service USDA-NRCS Place approximately two teaspoons of soil in your palm. Add a few drops of water and kneed soil to break down all the aggregates. Soil is at proper consistency when it feels plastic and moldable, like moist putty. Add dry soil to soak up water Does the soil remain in a ball when squeezed? Is the soil too dry? Is the soil too wet? Place ball of soil between thumb and forefinger, gently pushing the soil with your thumb, squeezing it upward into a ribbon. Form a ribbon of uniform thickness and width. Allow the ribbon to emerge and extend over forefinger, breaking from its own weight. Sand 0-10% Clay Does the soil form a ribbon? Loamy sand 0-15% Clay Does soil make a weak ribbon less than 1 inch long before it breaks? Does soil make a medium ribbon 1-2 inches long before it breaks? Does soil make a strong ribbon greater than 2 inches before it breaks? Excessively wet a small pinch of soil in your palm and rub it with your forefinger. Excessively wet a small pinch of soil in your palm and rub it with your forefinger. Excessively wet a small pinch of soil in your palm and rub it with your forefinger. Sandy Loam 0-20% Clay Silt Loam 0-27% Clay Does soil feel very gritty? Does soil feel very smooth? Sandy Clay Loam 20-35% Clay Silty Clay Loam 27-40% Clay Does soil feel very gritty? Does soil feel very smooth? Sandy Clay Loam 35-55% Clay Silty Clay Loam 40-60% Clay Does soil feel very gritty? Does soil feel very smooth? Loam 7-27% Clay Is neither gritty nor smooth. Clay Loam 27-40% Clay Is neither gritty nor smooth. Clay % Clay Is neither gritty nor smooth.

4 Page 4 Pictured at left is what is called a Soil Textural Triangle. It can be used to find what type of soil that you have if you know the percentages of clay, silt, and sand that are in it. To find the type of soil simply find each percentage of clay, silt, and sand on the side that s label corresponds to the material. Follow the lines until they meet and whatever area that they land in is the type of soil that you have. For example, let s say that the soil you have is made of 30% clay, 40% silt, and 30% sand. Find the 30% on the clay side of the triangle, find 40% on the silt side of the triangle, and find 30% on the sand side of the triangle. Follow the lines to the middle where you will then know that the soil you have is clay loam. The Soil Textural Triangle is fairly simple to use, very useful, and kind of fun to play around with. Provided by OnePlan Web Soil Survey Maps The web soil survey is a database source of soil maps found on the internet that is open to the public. To access the information go to the following website: nrcs.usda.gov/app At the home page click on Start WSS. Next click on County which is found under the Quick Navigation section on the left-hand side. Select the State and County desired and then click the View button. The map showing the selected county will appear on the screen. To specify the search even more to a certain portion of the county click on the AOI rectangle button which is found at the top of the map, second from the right. Place the cursor on the map, click, and drag over the specific area that is desired. A colored grid will appear over the specific area. Once you have found the area that you want, select the Soil Map tab that is found at the top of the screen. The map will appear with soil numbers. A table to the left of the map explains what soil correlates with each number and gives a brief description of the soil. There are other neat features on the program that can be used on the maps as well. You will just have to experiment with them. Provided by the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service USDA NRCS The information and maps can be saved to your computer or printed to your printer by clicking on the save or print button.

5 Page 5 Soil Testing Kansas State University Agriculture Experiment Station & Cooperative Extension Service The K-State Soil Testing Laboratory offers the service of soil testing to those who choose to take advantage of it. The land owner collects the soil sample and takes it to the local extension office where it is then shipped to the lab at K-State. The land owner must pay a small fee per soil sample plus shipping and handling. 1) The first step is for the land owner to obtain the sample. To do this a tube, auger, or spade, a clean pail, soil sample containers, and field information forms are needed. The forms can be found at the local extension office or fertilizer dealer. 2) Next a map should be drawn of the sample area on the information sheet. The field should then be divided into uniform areas that have the same soil texture, color, slope, fertilization, and cropping history. 3) From each area 20 to 30 cores or slices should be taken. Then mix the soil thoroughly in a clean container and fill the soil sample container with the mixture. Row crops should be sampled at 6 to 8 deep and all permanent sods at 4 deep. To test the available nitrogen, chloride, or sulfur levels, a subsoil sample of 24 inches is necessary. On fields that have been reduced-tilled or no-tilled for several years, use a split sample from the top 6 or 8 inches to assess ph and nutrient stratification near the surface. Caution: When testing for zinc levels, collect soil samples in a plastic container to avoid contamination from galvanized buckets or material made of rubber. 4) Avoid sampling in old fencerows, dead furrows, low spots, feeding areas, or other areas that might give unusual results. If information is desired on these unusual areas, obtain a separate sample from the area. 5) Clearly label the soil container and record the numbers on the soil container and the information sheet. For nitrogen testing, air dry samples as soon as possible. For all other tests, air drying is recommended before shipment but not essential. Do not use heat for drying. 6) Repeat the sampling procedure for each area that testing is desired. Soil Probe Pictured here is the Soil Survey of Jackson County, Kansas booklet. This was what was used before the web soil survey maps were developed on the internet. Included in the soil survey are maps, descriptions, properties, climate, interpretations, and many other useful pieces of information. These are excellent sources of information and can be found at the conservation district. Soil scientists use a book of several pages of arranged color chips, like the one below, that follow the Munsell System of Color Notation that allows them to compare soils from all over the world. To match the soil, it is held up to the cards until a visual match is found and then it is assigned a Munsell notation. The system uses three components, hue, value, and chroma, to determine the soils Munsell notation. For example, a brown soil may be noted: hue value/chroma (10YR 5/3).

6 Page 6 What is a Geologic Map? Geologic maps are an important source of natural-resource information. Geologic maps depict the bedrock (solid rock directly beneath the soil) at or near the earth s surface as if the soils and vegetation had been removed. Technically, these maps should be call bedrock geologic maps. Geologic maps graphically show the distribution, rock type, age, and horizontal distribution of bedrock near the earth s surface. Examples of bedrock that occur in Kansas are limestone, sandstone, and shale. Geologic maps also show the related geologic structures (faults, fractures, and folds) that would be exposed if the soils were stripped away. Thick surficial materials that have been transported in by wind, water, or ice are also mapped. In stream valleys, thick deposits of unconsolidated sand, gravel, clay, and silt have been deposited in more recent times; these deposits can be tens of feet thick. This material, termed alluvium, is younger in terms of geologic time than the underlying bedrock. In some areas, the bedrock is covered by thick deposits of windblown sand or silt. Windblown silt deposits are called loess. Glacial drift is material transported by glaciers and deposited directly on the land. This geological map shows the distribution of rock units and other geologically related information within Jackson County. Each rock unit is identified and named based on distinctive characteristics that can be mapped over large distances. Provided by Kansas Geological Survey There are 5 factors that affect the formation of soil. They are parent material, climate, living organisms, topography, and time. Parent material is the basis of the soil and what soil forms from. The different climates affect how a soil forms based on the temperature, moisture, and wind that is present during formation. The living organisms in soil mix the soil, different types of roots affect the soil in different ways, and leaves decompose on the surface and turn into nutrients for the soil. The slope of the land affects the moisture and temperature of the soil which in turn affects the formation of soil. The time that all of these other factors interact with the soil is a major part of the formation process. Also, this process never ends. Soil is always forming. Pictured is Cody Hill running the soil probe. The soil probe is used to determine if the soil beneath is desirable for certain practices such as ponds. This probe will go approximately 9-10 feet into the ground.

7 Page 7 Soil Terminology Aeration-- the process by which soil is supplied with air Clay a naturally occurring material made up of mostly fine-grained minerals; the smallest particle of soil Conservation the wise use of natural resources to prevent damage, pollution, and waste, therefore extending the life of resources for future generations. Decomposition the breakdown of plant materials into its simpler organic constituents Erosion the wearing away of the land surface by water, wind, ice, or other geological agents Fertile capable of sustaining abundant plant growth, rich in nutrients Leaching the removal of dissolvable materials from one zone of soil to another by water movement Loam a material that is also a soil textural class that contains 7-27% clay, 28-50% silt, and less than 52% sand Natural Resources material found in nature and used by humans Organic Matter decomposed plant and animal residue in the first 2-3 inches of the top soil Parent Material the unconsolidated and chemically weathered mineral or organic matter from which all soils are formed Pedology the study of soil Permeability the ease with which gases, liquids, or plant roots penetrate through the soil ph a scale for measuring the level of acidity in soil Pore Spaces small spaces between soil grains that are filled with air and water Runoff water from precipitation that is not absorbed but flows over the land, carrying sediment and other materials to water bodies Sand a sedimentary material of small loose grains of worn or disintegrated rock that is very fine Sediment earth material carried by water from eroding areas of the land Silt a sedimentary material of very fine particles intermediate in size Soil loose minerals and organic material on the surface of the Earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of plants Soil Biodiversity the mixing of living organisms in the soil Soil Profile vertical section of soil extending through all horizons of soil layers Soil Taxonomy a system of soil classification developed by the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Test procedure used to estimate the suitability of the soil to support plant growth Subsoil the layer of soil directly below the top soil Top Soil the layer of soil on the very top Weathering the breakdown and Careers in Soil: Many jobs deal with soil in one way or another but these are just a few. Farmer/Rancher Soil Scientist Agronomist Surveyor Civil Engineer Soil Conservationist Range Conservationist Geologist Excavator Landscaping Architect Horticulturist Gardener Fertilizer Company Ecologist Crop Scientist Research Technician Conservation Planner Crop production specialist

8 Kansas State Soil: Harney Silt Loam Provided by: United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service USDA NRCS A state soil is chosen on it s significance to the state. Harney Silt Loam became Kansas state soil on April 12, 1990 after five years of efforts to get it named the state soil. It covers almost 4 million acres of Kansas land, mostly in the westcentral counties. Harney Silt Loam was chosen in order to acknowledge the agricultural heritage in Kansas. Harney Silt Loam was selected because it has all of the desirable qualities of an ideal prairie soil and it is the soil with the most extensive coverage in Kansas. Harney is described as very deep, nearly level to moderately sloping, well drained, and is usually found on flat ridge tops and side slopes. Normally the top soil is about 12 inches deep and is a dark grayish-brown silt loam. Underneath that is the subsoil which is generally about 23 inches deep. The parent layer ranges from depths of 35 inches to 70 inches. The name The red area indicates the primary location of Harney Silt Loam. Imagine the Earth is an Apple Soil profile of Harney Silt Loam This is a very neat way of helping students to visualize the very small portion of the earth that is used to grow food. Imagine the Earth is an apple. Cut the land section in half. One part represents land that is mountains, deserts, or covered with ice. The other half is where people can live. Set this part aside. There is now only 1/32 of an apple remaining. Peel the skin from this tiny piece. The skin represents the soil on which the food is grown that must feed all the people on Earth. Cut the apple into fourths. Only one part is land the rest is water. Set aside the three sections that represent water. Cut the other livable area into fourths. Three of these are too rocky, wet, hot, infertile, or covered with roads and cities to grow food. People can live there but cannot grow food. Set these three aside. Dig In! Hands on Soil Investigations. National Science Teachers Association Press: Arlington, 2001 Contests Each year the sponsors five agricultural education contests ranging from 3rd grade up to high school. The poster contest is for 3rd and 4th grade, the post card contest is for 5th grade, the essay contest is for 6th through 8th grade, and the speech contest is for 9th through 12 grade. Information on each of these contests is sent out at the beginning of the year to all the teachers in Jackson County who teach the grade levels that correlate to the contests. The urges teachers to please consider incorporating these contests into their curriculum. Prizes are given at both the county and state levels.

9 Page 9 Edible Soil Soil has five basic layers, the organic matter, topsoil, subsoil, parent material, and bedrock. Usually the only layers we see though are the organic matter and the topsoil. So we have trouble visualizing the other layers and how they all relate to each other. This activity is a fun and tasty way of helping kids to visualize these layers and to better understand them. For this activity you will need, for each student: 1 clear plastic cup 1 Oreo cookie Crumbled cookies (any kind) Vanilla pudding Chocolate pudding 1 gummy worm Sprinkles The amount of each item depends on the size of cup that is used. Students can do this individually or as a group if you use large cups or find another large, clear item. As you complete each step talk about each layer in detail to help the kids understand how the layers work. If you need more information, please contact the conservation district. We have many resources that we can use to help you find what you are looking for. The first step is to put the Oreo cookie in the bottom of the cup. The Oreo represents the bedrock which is solid rock. Parent material is formed from this bedrock after a long weathering process. There are two basic ways that weathering can happen, physical and chemical. Physical weathering includes things like wind and water erosion, glacial activity, freezing and thawing, and biotic activity (plant roots, animals, micro-organisms, etc). Chemical weathering may include leaching, oxidation, carbonation, and/or hydration. Next spoon in a layer of crumbled cookies. The crumbled cookies represent the parent material which is also called the C horizon in a soil profile. It is called the parent material because it is weathered rock and partly weathered soil from which the soil layers above are formed. Add the vanilla pudding for the next layer, the subsoil. Also called the B horizon in a soil profile, it is lighter in color than the top soil and organic matter because of the materials that it is made of. The chocolate pudding, or topsoil, is the next layer. Plants thrive in the topsoil because of the nutrients found in it. Also, bacteria, fungi, and small animals are abundant in the topsoil. But don t forget the earthworms who burrow and aerate the soil. Add a gummy worm to the pudding. Last add the sprinkles on top. The sprinkles represent the organic matter found on top of the topsoil. It is usually about an inch or so thick. Organic matter, or litter, consists of decomposing plant and animal remains or any other thing that was once living. This litter decomposes into nutrients that enrich the soil and give nutrients to the plants and animals that live in it. Once the edible soil profile is complete, eat it!! Provided by the USDA-NRCS

10 Page 10 Painting with Soil Soils are one of our most important natural resources. They also are important for the beauty their many colors add to our landscapes. Most of us overlook this natural beauty because we see it every day. Often these colors blend with vegetation, sky, water, etc. Soil colors serve as pigments in bricks and pottery. So why not also paint with soil? Materials Soil (dried in air) Hammer or mallet Mortar and pestle (rubber-tipped) Paper cups (4 oz) Pencils Ink pens (black, different tip sizes) Paint brushes (different sizes) Artist acrylic (clear gloss medium) Sponges and rags Water color paper Masking tape Estimated Time: 1-2 hours Procedure 1.) Gather soils of various colors. 2.) Place each dried soil sample on a piece of paper and crush into pieces with a hammer or mallet. 3.)Place some of the crushed soil into a mortar. Use a rubber-tipped pestle to crush the soil into a fine powder. Repeat procedure to crush all of the different colored soils. 4.) Place the different soils in paper cups. 5.) Lightly sketch art work on water color paper with a pencil. When satisfied with the composition, use ink to make permanent lines. 6.) With masking tape, carefully tape the paper s edges to a table or board. This is done so that the art work will dry flat. 7.) Pour small amounts of artist acrylic in small paper cups. Add small amounts of soil. Experiment Provided by: United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service USDA-NRCS with depth of color and mixing the different soils. You may want to add water to the soil mix. 8.) Use different sizes and kinds of paint brushes, sponges, and rags. Experiment and have fun. 9.) When your art work is dry, you may want to apply another layer of soil paint to enhance and darken the colors. 10.) You may want to use a black ink pen to make finishing touches on your artwork. An example of the many things that can be made from soil paint. ATTENTION TEACHERS!!! If you would like to teach more about agriculture in your classroom we can get you the information that you need. We not only have lots of information here in our office but we also have numerous other resources that we can use to find what you are looking for. We can provide lesson plans, fun hands-on activities, educational videos, demonstrations, or even speakers. If you are interested in more information, please feel free to contact the Jackson County Conservation District at (785) Available Soil Videos & DVDs Videos: The Rain Simulator Dirt: Secrets in the Soil How Water Moves Through Soils The Living Landscape DVDs: A Partner in Conservation Since 1935 Soil Erosion By Wind & It s Control Soil: We Can t Grow Without It For a complete list of all the videos that are available, go to and click on Kansas NRCS Employees on the right hand side under Information For. Then click on Audio-Visual Media for Loan. If you are interested in any of the videos, not just soils, contact the conservation district.

11 Page 11 Soil Crayons Provided by USDA-NRCS In addition to painting with soils, you can also make your own crayons out of soil and color with them. Materials soil (dried in air) hammer/mallet sharp knife plastic ziplock bag mortar and pestle (rubber-tipped) paper cups (8 oz) knee-high nylon hose (white) paraffin wax hot plate saucepan (medium) 15 ml pointed centrifuge tube small glass funnel wood stir sticks (popsicle sticks) teaspoon ice bath metal spatula/scraper Estimated Time: About 45 minutes, depending on the number of colors that you make Procedure 1) Place dried soil on a piece of brown paper and crush into pieces with a hammer or mallet. 2) Place some of the crushed soil into a mortar. Crush the soil into a fine powder with the rubber-tipped pestle. Repeat to crush all of the soil. 3) Place cup of powdered soil in a paper cup. Wrap a knee-high nylon hose over the top three times. Turn the cup upside down over a piece of paper and gently shake to sprinkle out the finest powder onto the paper. Use this soil powder to make the soil crayons. 4) Repeat these steps for each soil. 5) Cut the wax into small pieces (1mm or less) with the knife. 6) Heat approximately 2 inches of water in a saucepan on a hotplate. Place the small beaker with water in the pan. When the water starts to boil, turn the hotplate down to a simmer. 7) While the water is heating, place enough small pieces of wax into a 15ml centrifuge tube (packed slightly) to about 12ml. 8) Place the centrifuge tube with the wax into the beaker in the saucepan and wait for the wax to melt. 9) When the wax is completely melted, place the glass funnel into the top of the centrifuge tube and spoon in approximately 1 teaspoon of prepared soil. Remove the funnel. Stir the wax and soil with a wooden stir stick. Continue stirring while removing the tube with the wax and soil mixture to an ice bath and remove the stick. 10) Let the centrifuge tube sit in the ice bath for about 15 minutes. Take the tube out of the bath and scrape the inside of the tube to remove any excess soil or wax along the rim edge of the crayon to help release it. 11) Turn the centrifuge tube upside down and gently tap on the counter to release the crayon. 12) Repeat process for all colors. 13) When you have made all of your crayons, color and have fun. Useful Websites Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservation Commission (SCC) Kansas Department for Ag in the Classroom Agriculture Research Service Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) Kansas State University Research & Extension National Agricultural Library National Association of Conservation Districts

12 307 Montana Ave Holton, Kansas (785) Board of Supervisors: Henry Hill Chairman Dennis Smith Vice Chairman Bill Conley Treasurer G.M. Albright Member Cecil Bowser Member District: Roberta Spencer District Manager Carl Jarboe Buffer Coordinator Kay Albright Education/NPS Coordinator Nick King Technical Aide NRCS: Bruce Yonke District Conservationist Kimberly Lary Soil Conservationist Brad McAllister Conservation Technician Cody Hill WAE Funding provided by the State Conservation Commission through appropriation from the Kansas Water Plan Fun. The district board meets the third Thursday of every month at the USDA building in Holton, Kansas at 1:00 p.m. All meetings are open to the public and all programs and services of the conservation district are available to anyone without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, handicap, religion, or national origin. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religions, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA s TARGET Center at (202) (voice mail and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC , or call (202) (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.