National Soil Erosion - Lab Report Example

The problem ment of this particular experiment is in regards to erosion and what factors affect it and control it. In order to better understandthis statement, research will be conducted, and an experiment will take place for the sake of exploration. The problem statement, the research, and the experiment are all relevant, as all of these factors are key to the understanding of erosion and how it affects nature and what can be implemented to control it from becoming destructive. Erosion has been experimented with on all levels. For instance, a young school aged boy did an experiment in his own backyard, right in the middle of the garden. He packed a mound of dirt, and his plan was to measure the affects of erosion over a twelve week period, caused by elements of the weather-the wind and the rain. When his experiment began, the mound of dirt was 42 inches wide and 19 and inches tall. The second week, the dirt mound had spread more than 2 inches outward and dropped approximately 3 inches. Each week, measurements were taken and the data was charted. Unfortunately, the experiment was never finished because it was wrecked (Riordin). Nevertheless, it showed how the elements of the weather can have a great affect on bare soiled mounds, such as the one that was constructed in the Riordin's garden. On a larger and more professional scale than that of a school boy, scientific researchers across the United States experimented with erosion. Their reason for doing so is because they wanted to understand how erosion affected different types of soil in an effort to improve agriculture. In this instance, they wanted to figure out how to best deal with the effects of erosion, while conserving water and soil at the same time. From this in depth experimentation, The Universal Soil Loss Equation was developed, which is considered by those in the field of agriculture to be one of the greatest developments in history, as it concerns the conservation of soil and water (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2009). Research began in central Utah in the year 1912 on land that was overgrazed and no longer fit for use at the time. A.W. Sampson and Associates were the ones who conducted experiments during this time and at this location. In 1917, field erosion plot research was conducted in Missouri by M. F. Miller and his other colleagues. In 1929, congress provided $160,000 of funding to erosion research, as a result of the severe drought that was faced, as well as the Dust Bowl storms that took place. As resource continued, the equation was perfected, and so were water and soil conservation methods. Today, software has been designed from this exact equation that is in use by the Department of Agriculture, as well as commercial farmers (U.S. department of Agriculture, 2009) Because we are working with stiff time constraints, we will not be able to conduct such long and drawn out experiments. We must experiment with erosion on a smaller time scale, and the experiment must take place in an environment that we can easily control. The experiment that is being conducted in this case will consist of three dirt mounds, ten inches high, that are built upon a tray lined with paper, all of them constructed differently. One dirt mound will consist of dirt that is packed together to form a sort-of mountain. The sides will be steep, and the top will be flat. The second mound will be constructed exactly the same; however, there will be a flat layer of pottery clay on top of the flat part of the mound. The third mound will be constructed in the same fashion as the other two, but this one will have grass seed planted on it. The seed will be planted on top, as well as on all sides. The dirt is to be a bit wet, but not too wet, so as to be able to properly form the mounds. All three of the mounds will be kept near a sunny window to simulate the environment of nature outdoors, as this type of environment is realistic, as it will enable the grass to grow and the artificial rain to dry up. Once all mounds are formed and the experiment is set up, an eight ounce cup of water is to slowly be poured upon each mound. Pouring the water too quickly will mess up the experiment. This is to be done once a day, preferably in the morning. Each day, the mounds are to be measured with a ruler to see if any erosion has occurred, such as if the mounds are shorter than the day before. Not to mention, careful attention will need to be given to the appearance and feel of the mounds. This is to continue for a seven day period. In order to measure and collect the quantitative data that will be part of this experiment, the mounds will be measured each day after the artificial rain is poured upon the mounds. Once the mounds have been measured, the data will then be charted. Other information that will be charted is the appearance of each mound as it is going through the erosion process, and the feel of the mounds. The technology and tools that will be needed for this experiment are few. A computer will be needed to keep track of all of the data, as this is how the data will be charted. A ruler will be used to measure each mound, so as to obtain the exact measurements. The reason that this experimental design has been chosen is because this will enable the best tracking of results, as well as help to provide an understanding of erosion, its affects, and how it can be controlled. This experimental design will enable a broader understanding of the topic, as it will enable the hypothesis to be thoroughly tested. Not to mention, this particular design works well with the time constraint that have been given. In this experiment, the independent variable, the variable which will influence the results of the dependent variables contained in this experiment, is the water that is to serve as artificial rain. Pouring the water on the mounds of dirt will be what causes the erosion to occur, just as rain outdoors causes erosion. Independent variables are the forces that are applied to the experiments, such as what the experimenter does, and these forces influence the outcomes, bringing forth the results. Concerning the dependent variables of this experiment, there are three of them. One dependent variable is the mound that is built out of bare soil. Another dependent variable is the mound that is built from bare soil but contains a layer of pottery clay on top. The final dependent variable is the mound of dirt on which the grass has been planted. The controlled variable of the experiment is the environment in which the experiment is being conducted. The experiment is being conducted indoors near a sunny window. Such an environment is easier to control, as there is nothing around to mess up the experiment or tamper with the results. To reduce any threats of internal validity from occurring, it is fitting to weed out any obstacles that will cause inconsistencies in the data. Inconsistencies are anything that will have a bearing on the results of the experiment: or, they will cause the experiment to be destroyed. Inconsistencies or obstacles that will have a threat on the internal validity of this experiment are the environment in which the experiment is being conducted (The environment can affect this experiment greatly, as depending upon what is going on, it will cause the various dirt mounds that are constructed to either be completely destroyed or altered, which will cause the results to become invalid. Animals or children with grabby fingers can also cause the experiment to be altered or completely tampered with.), failure to water and upkeep the grass that has been sown on one of the dirt mounds (Part of the experiment is to see whether or not plants or vegetation will help to control erosion. If the dirt mound that contains the vegetation is not kept properly, then internal validity will be threatened.), and making sure the proper materials are used (It is important that all of the proper materials are used in this experiment, or the internal validity will be threatened, as results will be influence in a way that is not wanted and become invalid.). Concerning the hypothesis, is it hypothesized that depending on the type of soil, or the amount of vegetation in the soil, the amount of erosion that will occur will be different. Bare soil will not be able to withstand the forces of nature at all, thus will fall flat after a period of time. The soil mound containing the pottery clay on top will have a mudslide affect because if there is weight on a mound, mudslides occur when erosion happens, such as when houses are built upon hills. The clay upon the mound in this experiment will simulate the weight or force upon the hill. Lastly, it is believed that vegetation will help to control erosion and keep it from becoming destructive. The roots of the vegetation, in this experiment will be the grass; this grass will keep the dirt hill intact. The reason that this hypothesis was formed is due to the understanding of erosion and what it does. Not to mention, enough information can be gathered from the above two experiments that enables one to estimate that such a thing will occur. The knowledge that is already possessed concerning erosion enables one to draw the conclusion that erosion can behave in such a way when influenced by the factors that have been stated. In order to test whether or not the hypothesis is correct, the experiment will need to be carried out. Carrying out the experiment will enable us to compare our results to the hypothesis, seeing whether or not they are in line with one another. Throughout the experiment, the designed outlined above was closely followed. Eight ounces of water was poured upon each mound once a day, and the quantitative data, i.e. the measurements of the mounds, was gathered by measuring the mounds with a ruler, and then the data was charted. Charts were used to keep track of the data that was collected in this experiment. The charts read as follows: Mound No. One: Bare Soiled Mound Days 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Appearance Mound is still the same shape Mound is slightly lower Mound is slightly lower than the day before Mound is even more lower The mound is even more lower than before Mound is almost flat Mound is now completely nothing Measurements inch lower 1/2 inch lower 1 inch lower 2 inches lower 2 inches lower 3 inches lower completely destroyed Feel Hard and packed Slightly wet Feels a bit flatter than before A bit wet but more flatter Feels even flatter Almost flat Completely flat now Mound No. Two: Bare soil Mound with clay Days 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Appearance Hard and packed muddy Muddy and starting to collapse Clay starting to slide Hill collapsing more so now Practically a muddy mess Hill collapsed and now caused a mudslide Measurements 1/2 inch lower 1/4 inch lower 1/2 inch lower 2 inches lower 2 inches lower 1 inch lower Done Feel Hard and packed Wet and muddy to the touch Clay feels moist and mound is muddy still Clay feels moist, mounds muddy, and feels like it will collapse Collapsing and a muddy gooey mess Almost flat, clay is moist and dirt is nothing but mud Completely collapsed, clay wet, soil mud and goo Mound No. Three: Grass Mound Days 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Appearance Hard and packed Slightly wet Slightly wet and still practically same size A little flatter but barely Grass is beginning to sprout Can really see grass Grass is very visible and hill still in tact Measurements inch 1/8 inch 1/8 inch 0 0 0 0 Feel Hard and packed A bit damp A bit damp A bit damp and hill not altered much Can feel grass sprouts Can really feel grass now Grass sprouted and hill in tact It is concluded that the results of this experiment were exactly in line with the hypothesis. From this experiment, it was gathered that bare soil can withstand erosion the least, weight placed upon soil causes mudslides when erosion occurs, such as what the clay caused on mound two, and vegetation helped to keep erosion under control. This is evident in how mound three withstood the effects of erosion because the grass helped it along. In this experiment, experimental design played a huge role because experimental design is a key factor to success in scientific inquiry because it enables one to test a claim or hypothesis that is made. If no experiments were designed to test whether or not claims were true, then we would have no clue of the physical world around us. For instance, if an experiment was never conducted to test the claims set forth in the hypothesis, then, we could not know how erosion would affect the different types of mounds. Because an experiment was conducted, we have an understanding of what erosion will do and how to control it. Anyone wishing to conduct this experiment will see the same results. While the measurements may be slightly different for each person, the outcome will be the same, which gives the claim outlined in the hypothesis all the more validity. Individuals who replicate the experiment exactly will see for themselves how erosion will affect different types of soil, as well as mounds that are constructed differently. Work Cited Riordin, M. (n.d.). Erosion. In whacky Webpage of Rich, Linda, and Michael Riordin. Retrieved from http://userpages.bright.net/double/erode.htm United States Department of Agriculture. (2009). National Soil Erosion Research Lab: USLE History. Retrieved from http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htmdocid=18093 Read More