Determining Surface Soil Color Lab Sheet
Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to estimate the organic matter content of mineral soils in Iowa using a color chart.
Objectives
1. Recognize differences in surface soils according to color.
2. Estimate the amount of organic matter in a surface soil sample.
3. Determine the color of surface soils using a color chart.
Materials
surface soil samples
color charts for estimating organic matter of mineral soils in Iowa
bottle of water
lab sheet
writing utensil
Procedure
1. Take a sample of soil from the plow layer or surface layer.
2. Use moist soil—neither wet nor dry. If the sample is dry, moisten it with a bottle of water.
3. Find the chart color the sample most closely matches.
4. Read the associated organic matter content.
5. Identify the color of the soil sample using the following key:
a. 5% organic matter: Very dark
b. 3.5% organic matter: Dark
c. 2.5% organic matter: Moderately dark
d. 2% organic matter: Light
e. 1.5% organic matter: Very light
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