Padi Huma Bakilong - Week 3 Report

This experiment was conducted on 22 May 2017.

The following is the continuation of the observation of the growth of the Padi Huma Bakilong seedlings. Seedlings in soil sample S5 has since germinated from Week 2. The plant nutrient deficiencies from the previous week remains the same, though the symptoms are now more more pronounced.

S1

Figure 1: Pot of soil sample S1

Average plant height: No germination
Germination rate: 0 %
Mortality rate: 100 %

Deficiency symptoms: - No germination

S2

Figure 2: Pot of soil sample S2

Average plant height: 24.367 cm
Germination rate: 61.111 %
Mortality rate: 38.889 %

Figure 3: Seedlings in S2 suffering from plant nutrient deficiency

Deficiency symptoms:
-Brown colour at the tip of the leaves (Deficiency in Potassium)
-Leaves are yellowish green (Deficiency in Nitrogen)


S3

Figure 4: Pot of soil sample S3

Average plant height: 24.3 cm
Germination rate: 57.407 %
Mortality rate: 42.592 %

Deficiency symptoms:
-Brown colour at the tip of leaves (Deficiency in Potassium)
-Leaves are yellowish green (Deficiency of Nitrogen)

Note: It is interesting to point out that the average height of both S2 and S3 are now roughly the same (24.367 cm and 24.3 cm respectively) despite in the previous week the difference in average height was vastly different (21.833 cm for S2 and 8.633 cm for S3). This may be due to the higher lack of nutrients in S2 compared to S3, as the seedlings in S2 shows more pronounced signs of deficiency. Unfortunately, no clear pictures of the plant nutrient deficiency in the seedlings of S3 was taken on that day and thus no proper comparisons can be made.


S4

Figure 5: Pot of soil sample S4

Average plant height: 38.733 cm
Germination rate: 100 %
Mortality rate: 0 %

Figure 6: Potassium nutrient deficiency symptom on the leaf tip of one of the taller seedlings

Figure 7: Noticeable potassium deficiency on the tips of the leaves of one of the shorter seedlings 

Deficiency symptoms:
-Brown colour at the tip of leaves (Deficiency in Potassium)

Note : Soil sample S4 seems to be the most fertile among the five soils as not only the seedlings grew taller, weeds have since grown in the soil of S5. No other soil sample has weeds in them.

Figure 8: Weeds growing in soil sample S5

S5

Figure 9: Pot of soil sample S5

Average plant height: 9.167 cm
Germination rate: 37.037 %
Mortality rate: 62.962 %

Deficiency symptoms: - None observed

Root-Tip Measurement and Seedling Weight

The root-tip measurement of the seedlings were also taken.

Figure 10: Seedlings from soil sample S2, S3, S4, and S5

Five seedlings were measured from root to tip and averaged. Below are the results of the measurements.

S2: 28.22 cm

S3: 29.00 cm

S4: 37.62 cm

S5: 8.78 cm

The wet weight of the seedlings were also taken. Afterwards, the seedlings were left to dry until no water is present so that it can be dry weighted. The latter part has yet to be concluded.

Wet weight of seedlings

S2: 0.8029 g

S3: 0.6218 g

S4: 0.9360 g

S5: 0.3122 g

Sieve Analysis

 Table 1 shows the sieve analysis data for S1

Sieve No.	Sieve opening mesh size	Mass of soil retained on each sieve	% of mass retained (Rn) on each sieve	Cumulative % Rn	% Finer 100 -∑Rn
1	2mm	63.89	22.00	22.00	78.00
2	1mm	57.05	19.64	41.64	58.36
3	212µm	107.15	36.89	78.53	21.47
4	125µm	53.35	18.37	96.9	31
5	63µm	6.94	2.39	99.29	0.71
	pan	2.11	0.73	100	0
Total		290.49

Total dry weight, S1= 301.30g

Mass loss during sieve analysis = 0.036g

Table 2 shows the sieve analysis data for S2

Sieve No.	Sieve opening mesh size	Mass of soil retained on each sieve	% of mass retained (Rn) on each sieve	Cumulative % Rn	% Finer 100 -∑Rn
1	2mm	1.09	0.29	0.29	99.71
2	1mm	2.04	0.55	0.84	99.16
3	212µm	22.17	5.95	6.79	93.21
4	125µm	313.02	84.06	90.85	9.15
5	63µm	631.28	8.40	99.25	0.75
	pan	2.78	0.75	100	0
Total		372.38

Total dry weight, S2= 378.98g
Mass loss during sieve analysis = 0.017g

Table 3 shows the sieve analysis data for S3

Sieve No.	Sieve opening mesh size	Mass of soil retained on each sieve	% of mass retained (Rn) on each sieve	Cumulative % Rn	% Finer 100 -∑Rn
1	2mm	24.66	7.41	7.41	92.59
2	1mm	36.35	10.93	18.34	81.66
3	212µm	184.94	55.59	73.93	26.07
4	125µm	60.02	18.04	91.97	8.03
5	63µm	24.44	7.35	99.32	0.68
	pan	2.29	0.69	100	0
Total		372.38

Total dry weight, S3=340.30g
Mass loss during sieve analysis = 0.022g

Table 4 shows the sieve analysis data for S4

Sieve No.	Sieve opening mesh size	Mass of soil retained on each sieve	% of mass retained (Rn) on each sieve	Cumulative % Rn	% Finer 100 -∑Rn
1	2mm	20.7	7.3	7.3	92.7
2	1mm	26.05	9.19	16.49	83.51
3	212µm	119.51	42.15	58.64	41.36
4	125µm	74.63	26.32	84.96	15.04
5	63µm	39.95	14.09	99.205	0.95
	pan	2.67	0.94	100	0
Total		283.51

Total dry weight, S4=292.84g

Mass loss during sieve analysis = 0.032g

Table 5 shows the sieve analysis data for S5

Sieve No.	Sieve opening mesh size	Mass of soil retained on each sieve	% of mass retained (Rn) on each sieve	Cumulative % Rn	% Finer 100 -∑Rn
1	2mm	6.79	8.10	8.10	91.90
2	1mm	8.13	9.70	17.80	82.20
3	212µm	17.66	21.08	38.88	61.12
4	125µm	23.75	28.35	67.23	32.77
5	63µm	20.35	24.29	91.52	8.48
	pan	7.10	8.48	100.00	0.00
Total		83.78

Total dry weight, S5= 86.21g
Mass loss during sieve analysis = 0.028g

Discussion

1. This method covers the sampling and determination of the particle size distribution of coarse and fine aggregates in accordance with Standard Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates.

2. Soil particles can be a range of sizes from boulders of metrein diameter to clay particles less than 2 µm (0.002 millimetres) in diameter. 

3. The main size classes are: 

Boulder: greater than 64mm 

Gravel: 64 to 2mm

Sand: 2mm to 63 µm

Silt: 63 to 2 µm

Clay: less than 2 µm

4. Particle sizes are investigated by sieving the soil sample through a series of sieves to separate particles of different sizes. There are 5 size of mesh sieve are used including 2mm, 1mm, 212µm, 125µm and 63µm. The sieving machine is set by 50 rpm in 15 minutes of each soil sample particularly to be used. The weight of sediment retained in each sieve is then measured of the proportion of the sample of each size class. The retained soil in the pan may be silt and clay. A sieve cannot measure fine particles less than 63µm (0.063mm). Hydrometer are suitable be measured for fine particles less than 63µm. The mesh sizes for sand should be 2mm, 1mm, 212µm and 125µm. For silt should be 63 µm. 

Conclusion

In this experiment, we found that the sieving machine can be only measured of each particle are followed by very coarse sand, coarse sand, fine sand and very fine sand. The results only shown for sand and silt by sieve analysis. S2 is the most sandier compared to the others soil particle.