- plastic teaspoon
- soil sample
- red and blue litmus paper or universal litmus paper
- Collect a small sample of soil to test.
- Place a teaspoon of soil into the jar, stir it to loosen all the particles
- Carefully add water to fill the jar approximately half way.
- Screw the lid onto the jar and shake the jar gently.
- Stand the jar on a flat surface and wait until the soil settles and the water becomes
clear. This may take a few days. - Unscrew the cap and using the plastic spoon and carefully remove some water from
the jar. - Using the litmus paper test the pH of the water.
How to interpret litmus paper observations
Remember that:
- blue litmus paper will turn red when placed in an acid solution
- red litmus paper will turn blue when placed in an alkaline solution
- if using universal litmus paper read the pH of the pH scale.
- Measure the water-holding capacity of your soil sample/samples
You will need the following apparatus:
- filter paper
- water
- soil sample (note the soil must preferably be dry)
- a two litre plastic cool drink bottle with the top of the bottle cut off, but leave the cap
on the bottle. (Keep the bottom half of the bottle) - Place the piece of filter paper into the neck of the bottle and fill the top of the bottle
with soil. - Add water to the bottle.
- NOTE: If testing more than one soil sample, the same amount of soil and water must
be added to each bottle top. - Carefully remove the bottle cap and place the bottom of the bottle under the top of the
bottle. - Observe how much water runs through the soil into the bottom of the bottle.
- Once the soil has drained of the water, using a measuring cylinder the amount of water
filtered can be measured.
- Temperature
- Measure the air temperature using a thermometer. Record the temperature in your
ecosystem for a two week period at different times of day. - A table similar to the table below needs to be completed for your temperature record-
ings.
Chapter 9. Biospheres to ecosystems 275