Soil substrate
The clay content of the Home bush soil was tested during this field study, by taking a sample of soil and measuring the behaviour of the soil and the textures of the sample.
Materials:
- Soil sample
- Water
- Petri dish
Method:
1. Collect a sample of soil and add it to a petri dish.
2. Remove any large debris or organic matter from the sample, subsequently add a small amount of water to the soil sample until it becomes moist and malleable.
3. Mould the soil sample into a bolus adding more soil or water if necessary. Continue to knead the soil until it no longer sticks to your fingers.
4. Mould the bolus into a rod. If the rod fractures the soil is assigned a texture grade lighter than a medium clay.
Note: Soil with heavy clay content will be stiff and will be able to be moulded into a rod without fractures. Soil with medium clay content will be able to be rolled into a rod without fractures but will not be stiff and finally soil with low clay content will be smooth to touch but unable to be rolled into a rod.
The soil substrate recorded during this field study had a medium clay content and therefore ranged below the average of a high clay content.
Materials:
- Soil sample
- Water
- Petri dish
Method:
1. Collect a sample of soil and add it to a petri dish.
2. Remove any large debris or organic matter from the sample, subsequently add a small amount of water to the soil sample until it becomes moist and malleable.
3. Mould the soil sample into a bolus adding more soil or water if necessary. Continue to knead the soil until it no longer sticks to your fingers.
4. Mould the bolus into a rod. If the rod fractures the soil is assigned a texture grade lighter than a medium clay.
Note: Soil with heavy clay content will be stiff and will be able to be moulded into a rod without fractures. Soil with medium clay content will be able to be rolled into a rod without fractures but will not be stiff and finally soil with low clay content will be smooth to touch but unable to be rolled into a rod.
The soil substrate recorded during this field study had a medium clay content and therefore ranged below the average of a high clay content.