Soil Soakers 4 th Grade Batson

Problem: Which type of soil will retain the most amount of water: sand, humus, clay, or gravel?

Hypothesis: If we pour 100 ml of water on 100 ml of soil, then we predict that humus will retain the most amount of water. If we pour 100 ml of water on 100 ml of soil, then we predict that humus will retain the most amount of water.

Control Variable Control Variable 100 ml of water 100 ml of water 100 ml of soil 100 ml of soil Different types of soil: Different types of soil: Sand Sand Clay Clay Humus Humus Gravel Gravel

Materials: Four plastic bottles Four plastic bottles Beaker Beaker Soil: clay, gravel, sand, and humus. Soil: clay, gravel, sand, and humus. Colored water Colored water Funnel Funnel

Procedure: 1.Pour 100 ml of different types of soil: Humus, clay, gravel, and sand into a beaker. 2.Place the soil on four different bottles 3.Pour 100 ml of colored water on each bottle with soil. 4.Wait a few minutes to find out which soil retains the most amount of water. 5.Measure the results and record the data.

Results

Data

Conclusion Our hypothesis was wrong. We thought that humus would retain the most amount of water. However, clay was the soil with the smallest particles and therefore retained the highest amount of water. Our hypothesis was wrong. We thought that humus would retain the most amount of water. However, clay was the soil with the smallest particles and therefore retained the highest amount of water.

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