Erosion Lab
Collaborators- Julia, Skippy, Riley
Abstract- We went to measure how erosion is affected by different conditions of the soil. We used three very generic conditions to test. Our results did match the hypothesis, however we used 300 ml of water instead of 500 ml due to the instruction of our teacher. Even though we used a different amount of water than everybody else, our results still matched the hypothesis.
Problem- How does grass effect the movement of water in an ecosystem?
Hypothesis- If there is more vegetation in the soil then there will not be as much water dripping out.
Parts of the experiment- The independent variable is the ground cover on the soil. The dependent variables are how much water drips out, the quality of the water, and how long it takes for the water to drip out.
Materials- 2 liter bottles, cut in half, Potting soil, Grass seed, Water, Pebbles, gravel or leaf litter
Procedure- Sowing the seeds
1. Place soil in an empty 2L bottle that has been cut in half (see picture above). Spread grass seed evenly throughout the soil.
2. Water grass seed every 3-4 days and allow it to sit near a source of sunlight or under a plant grow lamp.
Testing the effects
1. When the grass has grown 2-4 inches in height, you are ready to test the effects.
2. Fill two more empty 2L bottles with soil. Cover one with a top cover of your choice (gravel, pebbles, or leaf litter) and leave the other one alone as a control.
3. Line the three bottles up on top of an elevated surface. Place an empty beaker underneath the mouth of each bottle.
4. Prepare 4 graduated cylinders with 300 mL of water in each.
5. Have a student start a timer and say “GO.” When the timer says go, all 3 graduated cylinders should be poured onto the soil bottles.
6. Record the time, amount, and color of the water discharge in the table below. Then, answer the questions.
Data-
Abstract- We went to measure how erosion is affected by different conditions of the soil. We used three very generic conditions to test. Our results did match the hypothesis, however we used 300 ml of water instead of 500 ml due to the instruction of our teacher. Even though we used a different amount of water than everybody else, our results still matched the hypothesis.
Problem- How does grass effect the movement of water in an ecosystem?
Hypothesis- If there is more vegetation in the soil then there will not be as much water dripping out.
Parts of the experiment- The independent variable is the ground cover on the soil. The dependent variables are how much water drips out, the quality of the water, and how long it takes for the water to drip out.
Materials- 2 liter bottles, cut in half, Potting soil, Grass seed, Water, Pebbles, gravel or leaf litter
Procedure- Sowing the seeds
1. Place soil in an empty 2L bottle that has been cut in half (see picture above). Spread grass seed evenly throughout the soil.
2. Water grass seed every 3-4 days and allow it to sit near a source of sunlight or under a plant grow lamp.
Testing the effects
1. When the grass has grown 2-4 inches in height, you are ready to test the effects.
2. Fill two more empty 2L bottles with soil. Cover one with a top cover of your choice (gravel, pebbles, or leaf litter) and leave the other one alone as a control.
3. Line the three bottles up on top of an elevated surface. Place an empty beaker underneath the mouth of each bottle.
4. Prepare 4 graduated cylinders with 300 mL of water in each.
5. Have a student start a timer and say “GO.” When the timer says go, all 3 graduated cylinders should be poured onto the soil bottles.
6. Record the time, amount, and color of the water discharge in the table below. Then, answer the questions.
Data-
Questions- 1. Describe the difference in the water
collected from each of the 3 bottles. The bottles with
the grass and groundcover had no water drip out, but in the bottle with only
soil, the water that came out was so dirty that barely light could barely get
through.
2. Using your data to support your
answer, after deforestation, what would be most effective: planting grass seed,
leaving rotting material behind, or leaving bare soil? Support your answer. According
to the data, planting grass would be most effective. According to our data, the grass didn't even let the
water move, while the groundcover slowed it down and the bare soil didn't stop
anything.
3. Which setting would allow the greatest chance of water filtration (for cleaning pollutants, etc)? Explain your answer. The grass because I saw from my peers that the water coming out of the grass was clearer than the other water.
4. Describe how this lab could be done on a larger scale to test the effects over a longer period of time. Give a complete description. A collection station could be put at the end of a river. Then three different sections of the land next to the river could be altered to the desired specifications. Once this is done, water can be poured on only the specific section being tested and then the collection station can collect the water and measure it from there.
Conclusion- The hypothesis was absolutely correct about the runoff. The less vegetation in the soil the less water moves through the soil. In addition, the water that does move through the soil is naturally filtered. The water quality of rivers, lakes, and other drinking water sources depends on the vegetation that surrounds the lake, river, or other drinking water source. In fact the article How can I help prevent Erosion explains how adding vegetation can prevent erosion. There are also countless labs proving that vegetation prevents erosion. Just real life proof that the best way to prevent erosion and deforestation is to leave the vegetation alone. For the sake of clean water, keep the plants.
3. Which setting would allow the greatest chance of water filtration (for cleaning pollutants, etc)? Explain your answer. The grass because I saw from my peers that the water coming out of the grass was clearer than the other water.
4. Describe how this lab could be done on a larger scale to test the effects over a longer period of time. Give a complete description. A collection station could be put at the end of a river. Then three different sections of the land next to the river could be altered to the desired specifications. Once this is done, water can be poured on only the specific section being tested and then the collection station can collect the water and measure it from there.
Conclusion- The hypothesis was absolutely correct about the runoff. The less vegetation in the soil the less water moves through the soil. In addition, the water that does move through the soil is naturally filtered. The water quality of rivers, lakes, and other drinking water sources depends on the vegetation that surrounds the lake, river, or other drinking water source. In fact the article How can I help prevent Erosion explains how adding vegetation can prevent erosion. There are also countless labs proving that vegetation prevents erosion. Just real life proof that the best way to prevent erosion and deforestation is to leave the vegetation alone. For the sake of clean water, keep the plants.