Lab 5

Layers of Decomposition
The top layer is composed of recently fallen material from plants and are generally brown and drying. It is very easy to see what plant it came from. As you dig through the layers the material gets wetter while also being more broken down making it very difficult to tell what the item use to be. Also, living in these lower layers can be insects and fungi which is helping to break down the material into organic soil.

Layers of Soil in the Creek Bed
The creek we visited gave us a very clear picture of the layers of soil in the region. The top had an organic layer that became sandy, then gave way to a thick layer of clay that made up the bed itself. I found it interesting that the water washed away the softer portions of the clay giving the creek bed a porous appearance in many areas.

Piedmont/Coastal Plain
The historic significance of the national park we visited interested me greatly.
The region was extremely inviting to ancient peoples for the diversity of resources available to them from the different environments. The Piedmont and then the Coastal Plain provide a slight difference in plants and animals that allowed ancient peoples to be very successful in the area. As a result, the area became sort of an ancient trade hub that created set paths throughout the region. In more recent times, this attracted European settlers to the area to set up trade post. Also, the nearby river stops being navigable at the fall line allowing boats to go up river to Macon but no farther.

Interesting Points
I was surprised that structures of the scale of the temple mound where constructed in this region of the world. When I think of ancient engineering I refer to the Egyptian, Greek, Chinese, Roman, Aztec, Mayan, and Inca civilizations and forget that builders live in this region long ago also. It was an eye opener and reminded me that all around the world are ancient structures that marvel modern engineers.     

My Sunflower Plant

My plant has been growing for awhile now and is doing very well.

I started by watering the plant daily and wait for the plant to sprout. A few sprouted then I removed the smaller ones to prevent them from competing for resources. At this point I started watering the plant twice and day and sitting it outside to receive sunlight. I have done this daily for weeks now and my plant has grow to be nearly a foot tall.

Precautions I have taken also help the plant survive environmental hazards. I would water the plant frequently during the heat of the late summer. Since the temperature is getting colder, I am mindful to bring the plant inside at earlier hours to prevent damage from the cold. Also, I try to keep the plant inside during bad weather to prevent wind damage. The plant is also a survivor. It was unhappy during the hail storm that hit Macon last month but had little damage done to it.

That is how my plant is doing. I will update when new developments happen.      

Soil Taxonomy

Soil is separated into twelve different soil types, called The Twelve Soil Orders of the World. These soils have different characteristic depending upon the environment they are in. They can also have different levels of nutrition and water hold capability.
A map showing the soils for the entire world can be found here, World Soils Map.
Also, a simplified chart showing each soil with some detail can be found here,Soils Information.
Additional information can be found on this sight also,Additional Information.  

Blood Sugar

This graph made from the blood sugar data given in class.

Lab 4

Granulation of Soil

We first shoveled the ground to put soil into a graduation device. The device had several levels that represented different sizes of particles that would get through the device. The number would specify how many openings where located on one square inch. Unfortunately, the soil was too wet for our lab to get desired results; however, we were still able to achieve limited granulation. 

Split Spoon Corer

This device is used by pushing it into the ground then twisted to fill the device with a core sample. The sample would show a cross section of the soil. We were able to see three different levels of the soil ranging from organic soil to a yellowish clay. 

Community Garden

Community Gardens are set up in cities have many different challenges but also offer many good things to the people involved. Such a garden can bring many in a community together to solve a common goal. Also, these gardens teach people to have an appreciation for nature and where their food comes from. The use of the community garden can also be a good learning tool to learn how to raise ones own food. 

Community Gardens have challenges especially if urban areas. Pollutants in the soil can get into the food and be hazardous to someones health. Lead is the main pollutant in urban areas since it was used in gasoline. To avoid this, the garden we visited used raised bed with imported soil to prevent contamination. The garden also used compost piles for enrich the soil and recycle local food goods. 

Hand Testing

We attempted a hand testing of soil and succeeded in identifying the soil. The soil was a loamy sand. The reason is because we were unable to form a ribbon with the soil and it had a very rough, grainy feel.