Soil erosion experiment pdf

Soil erosion, especially in agricultural systems, affects everyone throughout the world. The immensity of the grand canyon is an extreme example of the effects erosion can have on its surroundings. Soil and erosion the jar for demonstration 2 must very solid can use glass, but be careful since the glass may break. This science based informational product will provide students and teachers basic facts about the weathering and erosion of rocks and soil. Of the three samples in this experiment, the grass sample was the only one that prevented soil from being washed away with the water. The experiment illustrates that soil with grass yields the clearest runoff, indicating less soil erosion. Soil erosion experiment pack slightly damp sand into the tray so that it is fairly level. It is the fairly uniform removal of soil in thin layers from the land surface, often scarcely perceptible, especially when caused by wind. It is something of an art and the truly committed person drives in every peg, or places every stone, with the insight that is derived from experience and. Pack slightly damp sand into the tray so that it is fairly level. Chemical weathering is the process by which chemicals in water wear away the surface of the earth by reacting with rocks and minerals.

Progress report on soil erosion and runoff experiments at north carolina experiment station farm, u s, dept. In this study, artificial rainfall experiment in the laboratory scale was conducted to clarify the mechanism of. Grow radish sprouts or other fastgrowing plants in a bread pan. This simple experiment shows the importance of trees imgur. Soil erosion assessment using gis and revised universal. The data in the experiment also shows that the grass covered soil setting has the greatest chance of water filtration, because the runoff from the grass covered soil was. Pdf soil is the most fundamental and basic natural resource for all life to survive. Crop residue is the old plant material that remains in the.

Weathering, soil, and erosion is a noprep printable nonfiction student text. Experimental study on soil erosion under different soil composition. Another experiment is to place sand in a slope at one side of a pan, and then add enough water to cover about half of it. This demonstration shows the effect ground cover has on soil erosion. When strong winds blow, the topsoil along with the organic matter is carried away by the wind. Shoebox or aluminum tin pan with holepunches in the end. Now that youve learned about sand and soil with this erosion experiment, keep the science going by testing more elements. This simple erosion experiment lets kids see the effects of water, wind, and ice on the soil.

The pioneer work of these stations furnishes a meritorious introduction to the italic numbers in parentheses refer to literature cited, p. This type of action after deforestation would be the most effective. There is the potential for burns since it gives off heat. In this experiment, we will discover how the shape of the terrain affects erosion as well as how plants and trees help to prevent it. Soil erosion is the movement and transport of soil by various agents, particularly water, wind, and mass movement.

The amount of erosion that occurs, measured in water clarity. A very simple experiment that stresses the importance of the vegetation cover of the soil. Make this project more challenging by recording the time it takes for the structures to erode away with a stopwatch. This sequence of events occurs over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales, from raindrop splash moving particles millimeters in. Do you want to create an amazing science fair project on soil erosion. Jared explains why erosion occurs more slowly when soil is paired with leaf debris or plants, in this simple demonstration you can try at home or in class. Water and wind erosion are two main agents that degrade soils find, read and cite all the research you. If all of the soil, or even just the top layer of soil, in your area was suddenly washed away, there would. Add potting soil and twigs, bark, leaves, roots, and other dead or dry material. It has been recognized as a major problem since the 1930s and, although there has been some 70 years of research into the causes and processes, it is still increasing and of growing concern.

Various agents, like wind, water, deforestation, overgrazing by cattle, etc. The earliest soil erosion research in the united states was conducted on overgrazed rangeland in central utah beginning in 1912 by a. However, when earthquakes occur, massive amounts of soil, including crops and forests are a. One way to help combat soil erosion is through the use of plants. The best choice of plants to prevent soil erosion are herbs, wild flowers and small trees. This project would increase the understanding of the waterborne soil erosion directly related to river systems and the gis combined rusle model. Soil is made up of small pieces of broken rock and decaying plants called organic matter. Join jessi and create your own mini landscape, to see how water can cause erosion, and change a landscape into something different. The amount of soil used, the amount of water used, the rate at which the water is poured, the materials used, and the elevation at which the bottles are propped. Add mulch or dead leaf cover to one of the nongrass bottles, leave the last bottle of soil. The formation of soil from the breakdown of organic matter takes a long time, but that soil can be carried away by erosion in a relatively short amount of time. Farmers plant trees and grass to cover and bind the soil. Preserving soil monoliths and specimens in vinyl plastic. Observe and record the different effects of weathering.

Germination and vigor of seeds warm testscold tests 14. Soil erosion is the displacement of the upper layer of soil, it is one form of soil degradation. Thus, modeling soil erosion requires a multidisciplinary approach among soil scientists, crop scientists. Sand and small rockspebbles to fill the shoeboxtin. Erosion preceded by the destruction of the crumb structure due to the impact of falling raindrop on the surface of soil is termed as splash erosion. This experiment suggests that planting vegetation on recently deforested lands would be the most effective way to prevent soil erosion. A coherent set of experiments showing processes and factors. The trays with coverings of grass, grass and sticks, wood chips, pine needles, and even rocks lost no soil to erosion during the nineday test. Soil is made up of small pieces of broken rock and decaying plants called organic.

Pdf this chapter explains the theory and methods for gisbased modeling of soil erosion, sediment transport, and deposition by surface water flow. Over millions of years, the colorado river wore away inch after inch of the arizona desert, producing one of the natural wonders of the world. Soil erosion is partially caused by runoff, or water that flows over the surface of the ground after the soil is saturated, or unable to absorb any more water. Soil erosion results from a complex interaction of soilplantatmospheric forces. Erosion also leaves large holes in the earth, which can weaken buildings and even cause. Starch goes to sugar as plants use their stored energy for regrowth 17.

When the layer of topsoil is removed, ground becomes unproductive and crops decrease. Soil erosion is the process where wind, water and human beings detach soil particles and deposit them somewhere else. Combatting soil erosion is based on a land ethic that drives the practitioner to repair what has been damaged. The amount and type of ground cover used live grass, dead grass, and bare soil. This post is also a part of the storybook science series.

Soil erosion involves the breakdown, detachment, transport, and redistribution of soil particles by forces of water, wind, or gravity. Why we should keep trees and plants living on our soil would be an awesome science experiment for a kid. The soil erosion site the processes of soil erosion. Soil erosion on cropland is of particular interest because of its onsite impacts on soil quality and crop productivity, and its offsite impacts on water quantity and quality, air quality, and biological activity. Plants have extensive root systems that can help grab on to soil and keep the soil clumped together. Set three beakers beneath the plastic bottles to catch the water. Exercise caution when using plaster of paris in demonstration 3. The small rocklike particles that make up soil come from larger rocks. Over time, rain rain and other weather events cause small particles to break loose from the. Science experiment on soil erosion this experiment, which has a tremendous visual impact due to its simplicity, it will demonstrate the relationship between precipitation, soil erosion, protection of watercourses and vegetation. In accordance with these agents, erosion is sometimes divided into water erosion, glacial. T value tolerable erosion equilibrium between soil gains and losses.

This might look like such a simple experiment but it will definitely show the importance of having vegetation covering the soil to your kids. Soil erosion by water is the wearing away of the earths surface by the force of water and gravity, and consists of soil particle dislodgement, entrainment, transport, and deposition. This natural process is caused by the dynamic activity of erosive agents, that is, water, ice glaciers, snow, air wind, plants, animals, and humans. Either way, soil erosion has a negative impact on agriculture and on the environment. Subscribe to the inspiration laboratories weekly newsletter. The causes of soil erosion can be natural or manmade. Use a small block of wood to raise one end of the tray. Plants prevent wind and water erosion by covering the soil and binding the soil with their roots. Two cake pans enough soil to fill the cake pans a 2 x 4 piece of wood or another item to set the pans on at an angle sprinkle can or spray bottle a few handfuls of straw, grass clippings, leaves, or other plant material newspapers activity description. Science fair project on the introduction to soil erosion.

The removal of topsoil by the natural forces is known as soil erosion. The process by which water, wind, and ice wear down rocks and other exposed surfaces. Did you ever stop to think about how important soil is to your daily life. Every day in march, bloggers will be sharing science activities inspired by a book. Soil erosion lab report matthew augustines apes project. Soil erosion occurs when soil is removed through the action of wind and water at a greater rate than it is formed soil the soil covering the surface of the earth has taken millions of years to form and we must learn to respect it. Water erosion may change the environment, especially if there is nothing to support the sand or soil. Field erosion plot research began in 1917 at the missouri agricultural experiment station in columbia, missouri by m. Place the other end of the tray on the edge of a sink or over an empty bucket. Erosion is one of the slowest, yet most powerful forces in nature. Assessing soil erosion although soil erosion has been taking place very slowly in natural. Experiment with soils from three different land uses to discover how strong soil erosion can be. Plant the seeds by pressing them lightly into the potting soil. In this lesson, students work in groups to create a hillside garden and observe what happens during soil erosion.