Erosion Lab
Collaborators: Melissa Daria, Victoria Ruddy, Wisam, Zack Riggs, Austin Dowler, Enny, Samantha, Emily Davis, Laura Sales
Introduction:
The movement of weathered rocks and soil components from one spot to another is what we know of as soil erosion. Some main causes for soil erosion are water, wind, and human activity in an area. Though it has its bad effects on our environment, it ruins the soil profile, decreases the water-holding capacity, and then increases soil compaction. This also results in a positive feedback loop because the water cannot seep through the soil so it runs off the land taking more and more soil with it. I think my hypothesis would work out because it makes the most sense because when there is more grass than there will be less soil erosion by water runoff. When there is more grass the soil won't runoff as easy because all of the roots of the grass keep the soil down. When there is no grass, I would expect more erosion because there is nothing to hold the soil down so it is more easy for soil erosion and runoff. Throughout this lab we are trying to see how the growth of soil is affected by runoff of water.
Problem: What effect does ground-cover have on preventing erosion?
Hypothesis: If there is a root system present, such as with grass, then less erosion will occur than with other forms of ground-cover or a lack of ground-cover because the roots collect water and hold the soil.
Parts of the Experiment:
Materials:
Methods:
Growing Grass
1.Place soil in an empty 2L bottle that has been cut in half. Spread grass seed evenly throughout the soil.
2.Water grass seed 2 times a week, Monday and Thursday
Procedure
1 Tilt both sample A and B with caps down facing downwards, off counter top
2 Remove cap and place beaker to catch future runoff
3 Pour 200mL at opposite side of each other liters
4 Let water runoff proceed into beaker
5 Analyze, collect and record data
Data Anaylsis:
Once we completed our lab, we discovered that the liter sample with grass (sample #2) has the most soil erosion. We came to this conclusion because the sample had a large collection of soil at the end in the collection beaker. Also the turbidity was high. Compared to in sample #1 the water was mostly clear with small amount of soil particles and less turbidity. Even though we poured 200 mL in the samples we only got 20% of the water in runoff in sample #1, and then 27.5% of the original water collected in the runoff. As a result of these observations we have come to a conclusion that Sample #2 with grass had the most soil erosion.
General Analysis:
Citation:
Collaborators: Melissa Daria, Victoria Ruddy, Wisam, Zack Riggs, Austin Dowler, Enny, Samantha, Emily Davis, Laura Sales
Introduction:
The movement of weathered rocks and soil components from one spot to another is what we know of as soil erosion. Some main causes for soil erosion are water, wind, and human activity in an area. Though it has its bad effects on our environment, it ruins the soil profile, decreases the water-holding capacity, and then increases soil compaction. This also results in a positive feedback loop because the water cannot seep through the soil so it runs off the land taking more and more soil with it. I think my hypothesis would work out because it makes the most sense because when there is more grass than there will be less soil erosion by water runoff. When there is more grass the soil won't runoff as easy because all of the roots of the grass keep the soil down. When there is no grass, I would expect more erosion because there is nothing to hold the soil down so it is more easy for soil erosion and runoff. Throughout this lab we are trying to see how the growth of soil is affected by runoff of water.
Problem: What effect does ground-cover have on preventing erosion?
Hypothesis: If there is a root system present, such as with grass, then less erosion will occur than with other forms of ground-cover or a lack of ground-cover because the roots collect water and hold the soil.
Parts of the Experiment:
- Control Group: Soil with no ground-cover
- Experimental Group: Soil with ground-cover and soil with grass
- Independent Variable: Plant Growth
- Dependent Variable: Water Quality & the amount of water collected(mL), amount of soil erosion
- Controlled Variable: 100mL of water used in all three tests, type of bottle used (2 liters)
Materials:
- 2 liter bottles, cut in half
- Potting soil
- Grass seed
- Water
- Raised Countertop
- Ruler
Methods:
Growing Grass
1.Place soil in an empty 2L bottle that has been cut in half. Spread grass seed evenly throughout the soil.
2.Water grass seed 2 times a week, Monday and Thursday
Procedure
1 Tilt both sample A and B with caps down facing downwards, off counter top
2 Remove cap and place beaker to catch future runoff
3 Pour 200mL at opposite side of each other liters
4 Let water runoff proceed into beaker
5 Analyze, collect and record data
Data Anaylsis:
Once we completed our lab, we discovered that the liter sample with grass (sample #2) has the most soil erosion. We came to this conclusion because the sample had a large collection of soil at the end in the collection beaker. Also the turbidity was high. Compared to in sample #1 the water was mostly clear with small amount of soil particles and less turbidity. Even though we poured 200 mL in the samples we only got 20% of the water in runoff in sample #1, and then 27.5% of the original water collected in the runoff. As a result of these observations we have come to a conclusion that Sample #2 with grass had the most soil erosion.
General Analysis:
- After this lab was finished the data showed that our hypothesis was wrong because we said that the sample with more grass will have less erosion. While that is true based on other's research in this lab it was wrong. With that being said it shows that we have mad a mistake in our lab since other research came to a different conclusion. One mistake could have been the angle of the bottles. If one bottle was angled more severely than the erosion also would have been more severe. On a large scale soil erosion is a big deal and is a huge problem. Many rivers are being polluted by run off that could be prevented. We need to stop removing so many trees close to water sources because when we do the erosion increases greatly. As seen in Effects of Erosion on Water Quality, sediments from the erosion are damaging to plant health, and it deceases the water quality. Plants with roots firmly in ground will greatly reduce soil erosion.
Citation:
- "Effects of Erosion on Water Quality." Effects of Erosion on Water Quality. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. <http://www.millcreek.20m.com/page5.html>.