Science Fair Projects with Soil - Part 1

Activity 1

The formation of soil from rocks (stones) can be understood with the help of an activity. Take a few small pieces of stones and crush them into a fine powder. You can also use pieces of earthen pots instead of stones. Take half of this porcelain a pot. To the other half, some kitchen waste (vegetables peelings and fruits peelings) and cow dung in another pot. Mix them properly by adding some water.

Keep the pot as such for a few days. Sow some seeds in this mixture and also in the pot containing the other half of the powdered stone. Water both the pots for two to three days. In which of the two pots the plants begin to grow after the germination of seeds? You will observe that the stone powder mixed with vegetable waste and cow-dung provides a better medium for the growth of plants.

Activity 2

Observe the soil profile in places where earth is being dug up for laying the foundation of a building, or a well, side of the - road on hilly regions or a steep river bank. Record the color of different horizons, the texture of soil and the approximate size of the particles in them. You can also take note of the thickness of different layers in the soil profiles. Record your data in Table 2 1.

Observations on Soil Profile

Activity 3         

Take  some dry soil. Keep it in a metal container and heat it on a flame or over a candle. Cover it with a lid. You will observe drops of water on the inner side of the lid. For a better result. a metal tumbler or a heat resistant glass test tube can be used. You may conclude from this activity that even apparently dry soil also contains some water.