Science Smarts: A lesson in precious soil

By Patty Rooks on July 16, 2022.

Although we had a bit of rain this summer, it is still extremely dry out there… I am no expert, but I would say we are still experiencing drought like conditions in southeastern Alberta. This is not anything new in Alberta.

In fact, in the 1930s there was a terrible drought in all of Canada. People would look outside and see the soil being carried away by the wind. This was often referred to as a dustbowl. Sometimes this is difficult to see if you live in the city, so I thought we could replicate just how easily the precious soil can leave. Let’s get started!

*Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

• two cups of soil (I like to use plastic cups when working outside)

• once cup of sand

• water

• small potted plant

• science notebook

• pencil

• outdoor location

Procedure

1. Find an outside location to do this as it is going to get messy!

2. Fill your cups of soil and sand right to the rim.

3. Add a bit of water to ONE of the cups of soil to make it moist.

4. Hold the cup of dry soil up to your lips and BLOW as hard as you can. Just like on a windy day in southeastern Alberta!

5. Repeat with the moist soil cup, sand cup and even the potted plant.

6. Write your observations down in your science notebook.

7. Was there any difference?

What is going on?

When you blew on the MOIST soil and even the POTTED PLANT, not much should have left the cup. When you blew across the surface of the sand and DRY soil, you likely lost A LOT of it.

This is exactly what happens when there is a drought (lack of moisture in the soil). The wind can remove large areas of soil and sand when it is experiencing drought like conditions.

When there is moisture and even plants in the soil, it anchors down the soil and the wind cannot blow it away quite as easily. It is not good when we have strong winds and the soil blows away as we need that rich topsoil.

Topsoil is essential because it contains nutrients that can help plants and crops grow. Cross your fingers that more rain will come soon!

Patty Rooks, Senior Scientific Consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community”. Contact with Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Address: #12 826 11 Street S. E., Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403.527.5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca.

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