Stephen+Vega+and+Alex+Phelps

=**Does the pH of soil change with its environment?**=

According to Sunset. com, most plants grow in neutral pH level soils. If the soil pH is too high, the nutrients in the soil are absorbed by the plant too slow and it dies. If the pH level in the soil is too low, then the plant is over-loaded with nutrients and won't be able to process it and too perishing. Keeping this in mind, Stephen and I, want to test the pH levels of the soils in various locations, and test and compare them to further out knowledge of acidity and basic properties to soil and what can we do to improve them for plants. It is out leading idea that: if a soil area is close to a city, then it will be on the extreme end on the pH scale. We think this because, cities naturally have more pollution, lack of trees, and other factors that contribute to either extreme acid and basic pH. We then want to compare the cities pH to other non-city environments and test for further information and results to see what we can do to help plants.
 * Why is this important? **

In most cases, the pH can be lowered simply by using fertilizers containing ammonium-N ( [|__Table 1__]). Ammonium sulfate and sulfur-coated urea are two of the best choices for acidifying soils. Most specialty fertilizers for "acid-loving" plants contain ammonium sulfate or sulfur-coated urea. These are popular sources of nitrogen for azaleas and blueberries. **What can cause acidity in soil?** The sources of acidity Nitrate is synthesized from ammonium by an important bacterial process known as nitrification. The first step in nitrification is the oxidation of ammonium to nitrite (NO 2 – ), a function carried out by bacteria in the genus //Nitrosomonas. // Once formed, the nitrite is rapidly oxidized further to nitrate, by bacteria in the genus //Nitrobacter. //The bacteria responsible for nitrification are very sensitive to acidity, so this process does not occur at significant rates in acidicsoil  or water. This is the reason why plants of acidic habitats must be capable of utilizing ammonium as their source of nitrogen nutrition.
 * What can be done about this? ** The most aggressive way to lower soil pH is to apply pure sulfur or flowers of sulfur.You can also add organic matter, such as [|compost] or composted manure, to your soil annually and mulch with acidic organic [|mulches]<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #231f20; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">, such as pine needles. Adding organic matter slowly lowers your pH over time, while increasing microbial life and improving the structure of your soil.
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #231f20; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is normal for the amount of acid in soil? **<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #231f20; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Most plants grow best where the soil is slightly acid in the range of pH 5.8 to 7.0
 * Rainfall
 * Fertilizer
 * Plant Root Activity
 * Weathering
 * Acid Rain
 * Mine Spoil

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif;">pH is a number used to measure the degree of acidity of a solution. It is used on a <span class="hitHighlite" style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; vertical-align: baseline;">pHscale <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #555555; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"> that ranges from 0 to 14, with the difference between each number being a factor of 10. In the life sciences, as well as in chemistry, many chemical reactions depend on the pH of a solution. pH is also used to analyze body secretions, to test soil suitability, and for industrial purposes.


 * What we are testing**- pH of soil in different environments and understand why there is a change (if there is a change), what its effects are, and conclude whether or not this is a matter of importance. This is important because, our research could potentially help out farmers or other agricultural fields. There are many species of plants that are very sensitive to any pH level changes and hence a dramatic increase of soil acidity is an important factor in today's world when dealing with plants and how cities affect them.

Cost- the cost is covered for the pH strips Mr. Cassulo also has access to Distilled Water and any other materials we will need for this project. (You can specify what each item costs) -Mason Schoch and Brayden Chave
 * What is needed**- ph test strips, distilled water

Maybe be more specific about where you'll be testing - Keyleigh Sutton

That is why you think the soil in the city will be more acidic right? Some forests used to be farmland and could be just as acidic with all the pesticides still in the ground! -Chloe` White Other factors and variables to be considered: Pesticides, water content, sunlight, and amount of minerals present in soil samples. Would another independent variable be how or what you are going to use to test the ph of the soil? - Abby Shute
 * Hypothesis**: Through scientific research, we deduce; the closer soil is to a urban center (city) then the more acidic the soil will be due to pollution and various other factors. Peoria is the closest thing we have to a "city" even that is not polluted enough most likely to really see a change in the soil.-Chloe` White
 * Independent variable**: Location of soil.
 * Dependant variable ** : pH of the soil


 * Procedures: **
 * 1. Collect appropriate materials for the project.
 * 2. Have a composition note book to record all findings
 * 3. Find a local map, so as to mark the locations you have been to.
 * 4. Arrive at specific locations (cities, woods, and country)
 * 5. Go to allotted area and find a specific spot to obtain soil sample.
 * 6. Using digging equipment retrieve a soil sample.
 * 7. Put the soil sample in zip-lock bag.
 * 8. Return to laboratory or school.
 * 9. Using appropriate equipment, put the soil sample into distilled water for testing.
 * 10. Be sure to thoroughly stir the soil in with the distilled water for maximum effectiveness.
 * 11. After having done so, put a single pH testing strip into the mixture and test for acidity.
 * 12. Record the results and then if needed proceed from step one for each soil sample.
 * Data:**
 * Location || pH Level || Absolute Location || Acid || Base || Most common Plant Types ||
 * city || 7 || randalf terrace ||  ||   ||   ||
 * farm || 8 || 1474 school street ||  ||   ||   ||
 * forest || 8.5 || 1714 saddleridge court ||  ||   ||   ||


 * highway || 7 ||  ||   ||
 * E. Peoria (industry) || 8.5 ||  ||   ||

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__ [] __
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-center;">Acid Rain - Soil Interactions **

How to Lower Your Soil pH
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #1155cc; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__ [] __ <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1.5; text-align: -webkit-center;">**Lowering Soil pH** []

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif;">"Nitrogen Cycle." //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; vertical-align: baseline;">The Gale Encyclopedia of Science //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif;">. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 4th ed. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 2008. 2998-3001. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Gale Virtual Reference Library //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif;">. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif;">"pH." //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; vertical-align: baseline;">UXL Complete Life Science Resource //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif;">. Ed. Julie Carnagie and Leonard C. Bruno. Vol. 3. Detroit: UXL, 2001. 445-446. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Gale Virtual Reference Library //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times,'Times New Roman',serif;">. Web. 3 Dec. 2013.

You could take us through a step by step, exactly what you are going to do for your procedure. -Abby Shute (might be a good idea to give a definition in your own words of what ph is -Elijah Strange) Explain why you'd need to add the distilled water to the samples - Keyleigh Sutton (You need to add a background on why you chose this topic or why it intrested you) - Mason Schoch and Brayden Chave