This past week we did a substrate analysis of the soil on our plot. As you can see in the image above left, we dug a soil pit about a foot and a half deep and lined it with pegs to differentiate between the different horizons in the soil. The top two layers, the O (+3in.) and A (-4in.), are darkest due to high content of organic material, and have roots visible from the expansive field of horsetails throughout our plot. The B horizon, a mineral soil composed of loamy sand, extends another 10 in. below the A horizon (-14in.). Below 14 in., the soil becomes completely sandy in the C horizon, which extends an indeterminate depth to the quartzite bedrock.
We also did a pH test of our soil (above, right) and found it to be about 6.5. The lower pH implies that there is a higher concentration of H+ ions in the soil and low levels of calcium and magnesium. Although this is on the acidic side, the O horizon was rich and well developed which might explain how the Allen family was able to farm here.
Photos by Sam Smith
No comments:
Post a Comment