Master a soil protection plan
Test how surface cover protects soil.
Before you begin
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Gather your supplies
- Two identical shallow soil trays
- Dry leaves or plant residue for one tray
- Equal measured water and two runoff containers
Use what you have. Purchases are optional and do not affect rewards.
Care and safety
Keep trays stable, use clean soil and prevent slippery spills. Never collect soil from contaminated or protected land.
Prerequisite: Soil under cover
This activity builds on the prerequisite. Sign in with your profile to check your completion record.
The experiment
Surface cover can absorb raindrop impact, slow runoff and protect soil while also changing evaporation. A protection plan must consider all three.
- 01
Use equal amounts of the same soil in two slightly tilted trays. Leave A bare and cover B with an even layer of dry plant material.
- 02
Pour the same measured water from the same height and rate onto each tray. Collect runoff separately.
- 03
Repeat at least three equal trials. Measure runoff volume and describe sediment color or amount after each trial.
- 04
Combine drainage, moisture-loss and runoff evidence into a soil protection plan. State where your small model may differ from a real field.