Results and Discussion

A. Soil Moisture Content

In finding the moisture content of the soil, the following formulas has been used:
𝑤𝑖 −𝑤𝑜
%𝑀𝐶 = ( 𝑤𝑜
) 100

where: 𝑀𝐶% = moisture content

𝑤𝑖 = initial weight of the soil
𝑤𝑜 = oven-dry weight of the soil
𝑤𝑖 = 𝑤𝑐𝑠 − 𝑤𝑐
where: 𝑤𝑖 = initial weight of the soil
𝑤𝑐𝑠 = weight of the soil and can
𝑤𝑐 = weight of the can

In weighing, we first get the weight of the can and then subtract it to the total weight of the fresh
soil sample collected from the core sampler which gives the value for the initial weight of the
soil. Then, we get the oven-dry weight of the soil.

Solution 1:
𝑤𝑖 = 𝑤𝑐𝑠 − 𝑤𝑐
𝑤𝑖 = 172.4 𝑔 − 28.7 𝑔
𝒘𝒊 = 𝟏𝟒𝟑. 𝟕 𝒈
Solution 2:
𝑤𝑖 −𝑤𝑜
%𝑀𝐶 = ( 𝑤𝑜
) 100

143.7 𝑔 − 143.5 𝑔
%𝑀𝐶 = ( ) 100
143.5 𝑔
0.2 𝑔
%𝑀𝐶 = ( ) 100
143.5 𝑔
%𝑀𝐶 = (0.00139372822 𝑔 )100
%𝑀𝐶 = 0.1393728223 𝑔
%𝑴𝑪 = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟒 %
B. Soil Bulk Density
In finding the bulk density of the soil, the following formula has been used:
𝑤𝑖
𝐵𝐷 = 𝑣𝑖

where: 𝐵𝐷 = bulk density

𝑤𝑖 = initial weight of the soil
𝑣𝑖 = initial volume of the soil
𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ

where: 𝑉 = volume
𝜋 = 3.1416
𝑟 = radius the cylinder
ℎ = height of the cylinder

Solution 1:
𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ
𝑉 = 3.1416 (5 𝑐𝑚)2 (5 𝑐𝑚)
𝑉 = 78.5398163397 𝑐𝑚3
𝑽 = 𝟕𝟖. 𝟓𝟒 𝒄𝒎𝟑

Solution 2:
𝑤𝑖
𝐵𝐷 =
𝑣𝑖
143.7 𝑔
𝐵𝐷 =
8.54 𝑐𝑚3
𝐵𝐷 = 16.8266978923 𝑔/𝑐𝑚3
𝑩𝑫 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟖𝟑 𝒈/𝒄𝒎𝟑

C. Soil Texture
Table 1. Soil texture test result per Horizon
Horizon Result
1 clay
2 sandy clay
3 silty clay

D. Soil Color
 Table 2. Munsell Soil Color Book test result per Horizon
Horizon Result
1 dark grayish brown (4/2, 10YR)
2 light yellowish brown (6/4, 10YR)
3 yellowish brown (5/4, 10 YR)

E. Soil pH

Table 3.a Soil pH result per Horizon

Horizon Result
1 6.4
2 6
3 4

Table 3.b Soil pH Test and Interpretation Chart

5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0
Strongly Medium Slightly Neutral Neutral Mildly Moderately
Acid Acid Acid Alkaline Alkaline
(Source: Colorado State University Alberta’s Agriculture Industry)

Table 3.c Soil pH Test to Plant Growth Chart

< 4.6 5.5 6.0 6.8 7.0 7.2 7.5 > 8.3
Too acid Reduced 6.8 to 7.2 6.8 to 7.2 6.8 to 7.2 6.8 to 7.2 Iron Too
for most soil – near – near – near – near availabilit alkaline
plants microbial neutral neutral neutral neutral y for most
activity 6.0 to 7.5 6.0 to 7.5 6.0 to 7.5 6.0 to 7.5 becomes plants
– – – – a
acceptable acceptab acceptab acceptab problem
for most le for le for le for on
plants most most most alkaline
plants plants plants soils
(Source: Colorado State University: CMG Garden Notes #222)

Table 3.a (Soil pH result per Horizon ) shows that the 1st horizon which has a result of 6.4 lies
between slightly acidic to neutral. The 2nd horizon which has a result of 6 shows implies it is
slightly acidic. Lastly, the 3rd horizon which has a result of 4 shows that the soil is beyond acidic
based on Table 3.b (Soil pH Interpretation Chart). The result happened to show that soil in
horizon 1 and 2 are acceptable for most plants while the soil in horizon 3 is too acidic for most
plants based on Table 3.c (Soil pH to Plant Growth Chart).

F. Soil Potassium Content

Table 4. Potassium test result per Horizon

Horizon Result
1 sufficient available Potassium
2 sufficient available Potassium
3 sufficient available Potassium

Table 4. shows that there is a sufficient availability of potassium in all of the horizons.

G. Soil Phosphorus Content

Table 5. Phosphorus test result per Horizon

Horizon Result
1 Low
2 Medium
3 Medium

There are different causes of phosphorus loss, it includes surface run off and leaching. Table 5.
(Phosphorus test result per Horizon ) shows that the horizon 1 has a result of low phosphorus
level while the deeper horizons (2 and 3) has a result of medium phosphorus level. The
phosphorus loss in horizon 1 might have been a result of surface run off in the site.

H. Soil Nitrogen Content

Table 6. Nitrogen test result per Horizon

Horizon Result
1 Medium
2 low
3 low
Table 6. (Nitrogen test result per Horizon ) shows the result of the nitrogen test per horizon. The
1st horizon which has a result of medium nitrogen level based on the soil test kit happened to be
an indication that soil in this horizon are acceptable or productive in most plants. 2nd and 3rd
horizon shows that in this depth the nitrogen level of the soil is the same. The result also shows
that the soil nitrogen is co-related with soil pH.

Figure 18. Comparison of Soil pH interpretation in terms of Plant Growth from Group 1 to Group 3

Soil pH interpretation in terms of Plant Growth

Horizon 4

Horizon 3

Horizon 2

Horizon 1

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Acceptable Soil pH Group 3 Group 2 Group 1

The Bar Graph shows the comparison of the soil pH test result from our group (Group 3) to the
result of other groups (Group 1 and Group 2). The Data shows that in line with acceptable soil
pH for plant growth all groups have the same result in horizon 2. It also shows that our group
(Group 3) has the nearest result from the Acceptable Soil pH among other groups (Group 1 and
Group 2) in horizon 1.

Table 7. Comparison in Potassium Level of Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
Horizon 1 Sufficient Sufficient Sufficient
Horizon 2 Sufficient Sufficient Sufficient
Horizon 3 Sufficient Sufficient Sufficient
 Horizon 4 Sufficient

Table 7(Comparison in Potassium Level of Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3) shows that the soils
from all the groups have sufficient availability of potassium from horizon 1 up to horizon 4.

Table 8. Numerical Coding Chart of the Qualitative Data.

Qualitative Data Low Medium High
Numeric Value 5 10 15

Figure 19. Comparison on the results in Soil Nitrogen Test of Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3

Comparison in Soil Nitrogen Test

15

10

0
Horizon 1 Horizon 2 Horizon 3 Horizon 4

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3

Figure 19 (Comparison on the results in Soil Nitrogen Test of Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3)
shows that the nitrogen test result of group 2 and group 3 has a same result from horizon 1
down to horizon 3. The graph also shows that in horizon 2 and horizon 3 all the groups got the
same result of low nitrogen level.

Figure 20. Comparison on the results in Soil Phosphorus Test of Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3
 Comparison In Soil Phosphorus Test
12

10

0
Horizon 1 Horizon 2 Horizon 3 Category 4

Group 1 Group 2 Group 3

Figure 20 (Comparison on the results in Soil Phosphorus Test of Group 1, Group 2 and Group
3) shows that the phosphorus level of Group 3 and Group 1 in horizon 1 are the same. The data
also shows that group 2 loss its phosphorus level as it goes deeper. While group 3 gain more
phosphorus level as it goes deeper.

Collecting soil samples from the site Soil samples in a cylinder container
Getting the fresh weight of the soil samples. Oven-dried soil samples in desiccators

Getting the oven dry weight of the soil samples Grinding soil samples into finer pieces

Pictures from the conducted soil testing