Kurn Hattin #2 Outline

1.) Introduction

2.) Icebreaker Activity: Ask them about the vegetable sheet

a.) All of these plants rely on the health of the soil for the vitamins and minerals you are getting!

3.) Review:
a.) Soil Particle Size/Water holding
i.) Sand- largest particle size (holds the least amount of water)
ii.) Silt- middle particle size
iii.) Clay- smallest particle size (holds the most amount of water)
iv.) Loam- farming! (20% clay, 40% sand, and 40% silt)

b.) What Soil is Made up Of:

i.) Water
ii.) Minerals- Can you name the 3 primary macronutrients found in soil? Talk about the main ones
that need replenishing today.
iii.) Organic Matter- Converted from organic material (does anyone remember a source of organic
material?) by microorganisms which we will talk about today

4.) Learning Objectives

a.) Evaluate the mineral composition of a soil sample
-Evaluated by Activity #1
b.) Identify at least 2 functions of microorganisms in the soil
-Evaluated using two questions in Activity #2

5.) Nitrogen (N)

Needed in largest amount = plants need large quantities
Component of chlorophyll - Ask: What do plants need chlorophyll for? Photosynthesis.
Enhances plant growth, increases seed and fruit production and improves quality of leaf
Major part of plant cell proteins, enzymes and metabolic processes needed to transfer and
produce energy
Excess N: Produces soft succulent growth, Causes plant to stay vegetative and inhibits fruiting,
thereby delaying maturity, Increases susceptibility to disease
Sources: organic matter, animal manures, legumes, & commercial fertilizer

6.) Phosphorus
Essential for fruit & seed formation
Helps roots form early & speeds up maturity
Increases strength in stems & stalks
Important for photosynthesis
Sources: native soil, animal manures, compost, & commercial fertilizers
 Phosphorus enhancers: Worms, bacteria, fungi and microbes
Enters plant through root hairs, tips and outermost layers of root cells

7.) Potassium
Produces strong stalks
Helps the plant to be resistant against diseases
Improves quality of fruit and seed
Sources: native soil, animal manures, compost, & commercial fertilizer

8.) Activity: Soil Testing.

a.) Sample sites: Keene (Marissas backyard), Connecticut River, Walpole.

9.) How to Add Minerals Back into the soil

a.) Compost
b.) Animal Manure
c.) Organic fertilizers

10.) Gases (2-50% of soil volume)

a.) Plants need oxygen, nitrogen, and CO2
b.) Too much water? (waterlogged) prevents gas exchange and leads to death (floods)

11.) Microorganisms (less than 1% of soil volume) The Life of the Soil
a.) Did you know. There are more microorganisms in one teaspoon of soil than there are people
on the earth?!
i.) 1 g can contain up to a billion microbes
ii.) A microscope is usually needed to see them.
iii.) Mainly found in topsoil
iv.) Examples: bacteria, actinomycetes, protozoa, fungi, and nematodes

12.) Microorganisms: Functions

a.) Consume raw organic matter, air and water to recycle raw organic matter into humus
b.) Fix nitrogen to help plants grow
c.) Detoxify harmful chemicals
d.) Suppress disease organisms
e.) Source of many antibiotic medicines!

13.) Soil Pollution

a.) Caused by:
i.) pesticides and herbicides (farming chemicals)
ii.) Leaks in sewage systems
iii.) Storage of wastes in landfills
iv.) Floods from polluted lands
v.) Vehicle emissions

b.) Effects:
i.) Air and water pollution
 ii.) Harms soil microorganisms
iii.) Reduces plants ability to take up nutrients and for photosynthesis
14.) Activity: Recycle Ball

Questions:

Name an example of a microorganism. Bacteria, actinomycetes, protozoa, fungi, and

nematodes
Which soil has the smallest particle size? Clay
Name one benefit of compost. Helps soil hold nutrients and water, encourages production of
beneficial bacteria and fungi, reduces emissions from landfills
Which element is needed in the largest quantity for plants? Nitrogen
What happens when excess water is found in spaces where gas should be? Plant death (gas
exchange cant occur)
Name one primary macronutrients found in the soil. Potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen
Which layer of the soil are microorganisms mainly found in? Topsoil
Name one way that minerals can be added back into the soil. Compost, fertilizer, or manure
Name a main gas found in the soil? Oxygen, CO2, or Nitrogenous gas
True or false? Usually, a microscope is not needed to see microorganisms. False
Name one cause of soil pollution. Pesticidies, herbidicides, leaks in sewage system, storage of
wastes in landfills, floods from polluted lands, vehicle emissions
Microorganisms consume raw organic matter, air, and water to convert organic matter into
what? Humus
Which soil has the largest particle size? Sand
Name a function of a microorganism. Fix nitrogen, detoxify harmful chemicals, suppress disease
organisms,
Name another function of a microorganism. Fix nitrogen, detoxify harmful chemicals, suppress
disease organisms,
Which soil holds the greatest amount of water? Clay
Name one effect of soil pollution. Air and water pollution, harm to soil microorganisms, Reduces
plants ability to take up nutrients and for photosynthesis
Which soil holds the least amount of water? Sand
What is the difference between organic fertilizers and non-organic fertilizers? Their sources.
Organic fertilizers come directly from plant or animal sources while non-organic fertilizers come
from rock minerals, chemical compounds, or chemical synthesis.
Which soil is most commonly used for farming? Loam
15.) Call to Action:
a.) Go visit the compost pile and find out what you can and cant add to it!
16.) Resources:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/SAG-16
http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Books/Building-Soils-for-Better-Crops-3rd-
Edition/Text-Version/The-Living-Soil/Soil-Microorganisms
http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/land-pollution/what-is-soil-contamination.html
https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home