SCI 207 Our Dependence upon the Environment

Properties of Soil, Agriculture and Water Availability Impacts Laboratory
[WLO: 2] [CLOs: 1, 3, 5]
This lab enables you to analyze the natural porosity and particle size of soil samples along with the chemical composition and profile of different soil types.

The Process:

Take the required photos and complete all parts of the assignment (calculations, data tables, etc.). On the “Lab Worksheet,” answer all of the questions in the “Lab Questions” section. Finally, transfer all of your answers and visual elements from the “Lab Worksheet” into the “Lab Report.” You will submit both the “Lab Report” and the “Lab Worksheet” to Waypoint.

The Assignment:

Make sure to complete all of the following items before submission:

Before you begin the assignment, read the Properties of Soil: Agricultural and Water Availability Impacts Investigation ManualPreview the document and review The Scientific Method (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. presentation video.
Complete Activities 1 through 4 using materials in your kit, augmented by additional materials that you will supply. Photograph each activity following these instructions:
When taking lab photos, you need to include in each image a strip of paper with your name and the date clearly written on it.
Complete all parts of the Week 2 Lab WorksheetPreview the document, and answer all of the questions in the “Lab Questions” section.
Transfer your responses to the lab questions and the data tables and your photos from the “Lab Worksheet” into the “Lab Report” by downloading the Lab Report TemplatePreview the document.
Submit your completed “Lab Report” and “Lab Worksheet” through Waypoint.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.

Name of Lab
Your Name
SCI 207: Our Dependence Upon the Environment
Instructor’s Name

*This template will enable you to turn your lab question responses into a polished Lab Report. Simply copy paste your answers to the lab questions, as well as all data tables, graphs, and photographs, in the locations indicated. Before you submit your Lab Report, it is recommended that you run it through Turnitin, using the student folder, to ensure protection from accidental plagiarism. Please delete this purple text before submitting your report.

Name of Lab

Introduction
Copy and paste your response to Question One here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Two here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Three here.
Materials and Methods
Copy and paste your response to Question Four here.
Results
Copy and paste your completed Data Tables here.
Copy and paste any Graphs here. Include a numbered figure caption below it, in APA format.
Copy and paste your Photographs here, in the order they were taken in the lab. Include numbered figure captions below them, in APA format.
Discussion
Copy and paste your response to Question Five here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Six here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Seven here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Eight here.
References
Copy and paste your response to Question
2)
ACTIVITY

Lab Worksheet
Hypotheses
Activity 1.

Activity 2.

Activity 3.

Activity 4.

Observations/Data Tables
Data Table 1. Particle Size Distribution and Soil Type

Depth of Clay Layer (cm) Depth of Silt Layer (cm) Depth of Sand Layer (cm) Total Depth (cm) %
Clay %
Silt %
Sand Soil Texture
Soil Sample A

Data Table 2. Determination of Soil Porosity

Time Taken for First Drop to Emerge from Column (s)
Sand Sample
Clay Sample
Soil Sample A

continued on next page

Data Table 3. pH Comparison of Soil Samples

Soil Sample A Soil Sample B
(Location Description: )
pH

Data Table 4. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potash Comparison in Soil Samples

Nitrogen Phosphorus Potash
Soil Sample A
Soil Sample B

Photographs
Activity 1. Activity 2.

Activity 3. Activity 4.

Lab Questions
Please answer the following entirely in your own words and in complete sentences: Introduction
1. Background—What is important to know about the topic of this lab? Use at least one outside source (other than course materials) to answer this question. Cite the source using APA format. Answers should be 5–7 sentences in length.
[Write your answers here]

2. Outcomes—What was the main purpose of this lab?
[Write your answers here]

3. Hypotheses—What were your hypotheses for the activities of this lab? Identify each hypothesis clearly, and explain your reasoning.
[Write your answers here]

Materials and Methods
4. Using your own words, briefly describe what materials and methods you used in each of the activities. Your answer should be sufficiently detailed so that someone reading it would be able to replicate what you did. Explain any measurements you made.
[Write your answers here]

Discussion
5. Based upon the results of each activity, explain whether you accepted or rejected your hypotheses and why.
[Write your answers here]

6. What important information have you learned from this lab? Use at least one outside source (scholarly for full credit) to answer this question. Cite the source using APA format.
Answers should be 5–7 sentences in length.
[Write your answers here]

7. What challenges did you encounter when doing this lab? Name at least one.
[Write your answers here]

8. What additional information would you need to know, beyond what you did in this lab, to
determine whether a farm would be agriculturally productive or not? Provide at least 3 examples.
[Write your answers here]

Literature Cited
9. List the references you used to answer these questions. (Use APA format, and alphabetize by the last name.)
[Write your answers here]

USE THE RESOURCES REQUIRE BELOW:
Text
Bensel, T., & Turk, J. (2014). Contemporary environmental issues (2nd ed.). Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu

Chapter 3: Feeding the World
Supplemental Material
Carolina Distance Learning. (n.d.). Properties of soil: Agricultural and water availability impacts investigation manual [PDF]. Retrieved from https://ashford.instructure.com

This lab manual provides background information on soil properties and will assist you in your Properties of Soil: Agricultural and Water Availability Impacts Laboratory assignment. This manual is available for download in your online classroom.

Recommended Resources
Multimedia
Happen Films. (2017, May 21). Organic sustainable farming is the future of agriculture – The future of food (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/hWkYtZxpQUo

This video provides information about community supported sustainable agriculture and may assist you in your Sustaining our Agricultural Resources assignment this week.
Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Web Pages
GRACE Communications Foundation. (n.d.). Sustainable agriculture: The basics (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Retrieved from http://www.sustainabletable.org/246/sustainable-agriculture-the-basics

This web page provides information about the basic elements of sustainable agriculture and may assist you in your Sustaining our Agricultural Resources Assignment.
Accessibility Statement does not exist.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
UC Davis, Agricultural Sustainability Institute. (n.d.). What is sustainable agriculture? (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. Retrieved from http://asi.ucdavis.edu/programs/sarep/about/what-is-sustainable-agriculture

This web page provides information about the philosophy behind sustainable agriculture and may assist you in your Sustaining our Agricultural Resources Assignment.
Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Union of Concerned Scientists. (n.d.). What is sustainable agriculture? (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/food-agriculture/advance-sustainable-agriculture/what-is-sustainable-agriculture#.W1Ekbdgzqu4

This web page provides information about sustainable agricultural practices and may assist you in your Sustaining our Agricultural Resources Assignment.
Accessibility Statement does not exist.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
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