Directions: Investigate to determine the best soil type and additives to use for three
different crops. Make a recommendation to the farmer that takes into consideration both
the crop yield and the environmental impact.
Data Collection
Using the Soil Analysis Lab Activity, you will be collecting data about crop yield and
environmental impact of soil types and adjusting soil additives for threedifferent crops.
Corn
Part 1: Soil Type
Best Soil Type
Part 2: pH and Nutrients
Test
1
Test
2
Test
3
Test
4
Test
5
Test
6
Test
7
Test
8
Test
9
Soil pH
Soil Nutrients
Crop Impact
Environmental
Impact
Soybeans
Part 1: Soil Type
Best Soil Type
© 2019 Pearson Online & Blended Learning K–12 USA. All rights reserved.2
Part 2: pH and Nutrients
Test
1
Test
2
Test
3
Test
4
Test
5
Test
6
Test
7
Test
8
Test
9
Soil pH
Soil Nutrients
Crop Impact
Environmental
Impact
Sunflowers
Part 1: Soil Type
Best Soil Type
Part 2: pH and Nutrients
Test
1
Test
2
Test
3
Test
4
Test
5
Test
6
Test
7
Test
8
Test
9
Soil pH
Soil Nutrients
Crop Impact
Environmental
Impact
Data Analysis
Before drawing conclusions or making a recommendation, you will need to look for
patterns and trends in the data. Write a paragraph describing the data and any patterns
or trends you see for each of the three crops.
© 2019 Pearson Online & Blended Learning K–12 USA. All rights reserved.3
Corn
Soybeans
Sunflowers
Drawing Conclusions and Making a
Recommendation
Having studied the data for patterns and trends, you should now be able to draw some
conclusions and make recommendations to the farmer about what soil and soil additives
he should use for each crop to attain the best crop yield with the lowest environmental
impact. Include the following:
● What was the best soil type for each crop?
● What were the optimum soil conditions for each crop?
● How did crop impact relate to environmental impact?
● If the farmer chooses to grow only one crop, which one would you recommend?
Why?
Based on the data collected for each crop, it appears that the best soil type for corn is loam, for soybeans is sandy loam, and for sunflowers is sandy soil. The optimum soil conditions for each crop include a slightly acidic to neutral pH and adequate levels of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
In terms of crop impact and environmental impact, it seems that there is a correlation between the two. Crops that have a higher yield also tend to have a higher environmental impact due to the use of fertilizers and other additives. Conversely, crops with lower yields tend to have a lower environmental impact.
If the farmer were to choose to grow only one crop, I would recommend soybeans. This is because soybeans can thrive in sandy loam soil, which is relatively easier to maintain and has a lower environmental impact compared to other soil types. Additionally, soybeans have a moderate crop yield, which allows for a good balance between crop production and environmental sustainability.