The Effects of Soil Type on Plant Growth

Our names are Warren McMurtrie and Camery Burkwalt . We are both eleventh graders
at Springport High School, three hundred West Main Street,Springport, Michigan . We are
currently members of F.F.A . in our school . Our agriscience category is soil .
The purpose for this project is to determine which soil works best for plant growth .
The procedure is to start from seed using two inch seeding flats , insert seeds about one
half inch deep in to potting soil . After plant growth has occurred , remove each plant from the
seeding flats carefully not to brake roots . Remove the control plant and re plant into the
medium it came in . Replant each plant into seven inch pots using four types of soil : clay,
sand, loam and perlight . All plants must receive the same treatment . A watering schedule must
be maintained . All plants must receive the same amount of sunlight, airflow and temperature .
Plants must be monitored for several weeks . Record results .
Our conclusion is the plants in the loam soil will grow the best because it contains a
mixture of sand, clay,and humus . It also has a higher ph and calcium level .
This project was done to find out which soil type works best for plant growth .

Purpose: The purpose for this project is to determine which soil works best for plant growth.
2.) Procedure: The procedure is to start from seed using two inch seeding flats , insert
seeds about one forth inch deep into potting soil. After plant growth has occurred, remove each
plant from its container and rinse root system with water. Replant each plant into seven inch pots
using for types of soil: clay, loam, sand and perlite. Remove the control plant, rinse and replant
into the medium it came in. All plants must receive the same treatment. A watering schedule
must be maintained. All plants must receive the same amount of sunlight, air flow and
temperature. Plants must be monitored for several weeks. Record results !
3. conclusion : The plants in the loam soil will grow the best because the soil contains
a mixture of sand, clay, and humus . It also has a higher ph and calcium level .

This project was done to find out which soil type works best for plant growth.

Articles we researched are:

Article 1) How do the Properties of Soils Affect Plant Growth?

The texture and materials that can be found in the soil, affects the plant growth quality of plants.
The characteristics of soil play a big part in the plants ability to extract water and nutrients. If
plants are to grow to their potential, the soil must provide a satisfactory environment for plant
growth.

Article 2.) Five Different Soil Types Know Your Soil Type.
This article talks about the different types of soil, and how to test them. The ideal soil would be
loam because it contains, sand, clay and humus. It has a higher PH and calcium level. There are
five different soil types that gardeners and growers usually work with. All five is a combination
of just three types of weathered rock particles that make up the soil; sand, silt and clay. How
these three particles are combined defines your soil type how it feels to the touch, how it holds
water, and how its managed, among other things.
The materials we used for this project include; two inch seeding flats to start seeds in,
seven inch pots to transplant into, potting soil,sand, clay, perlite and loam. First we planted the
tomato seeds into seeding flats with potting soil . We then put the seeding flat into a heated and
lighted room . We water them every day and check on them . After the plants have grown at least
six inches tall, we rinse the roots of each plant and transplant them into seven inch pots, using
four different soil types : sand, clay, perlite and loam . Our prediction is that the tomato plant in
the loam will grow better in the loam because it has a higher ph and calcium level .