Soil Samples Fertility Testing Lab

Unlock the secrets of soil health with our Soil Samples Fertility Testing Lab Activity—perfect for curious middle and high school students! This activity features detailed worksheets, colorful charts, and easy-to-follow laboratory instructions to guide hands-on testing of soil fertility and nutrient analysis. Inspire your classroom with engaging experiments that bring science to life, while building essential skills in observation, data recording, and analysis.

Soil is incredibly important for many reasons. It prevents flooding, acts as the basis for food production, sequesters carbon (storing three times as much as the atmosphere), filters water, contains habitats for organisms, cycles nutrients, detoxes organic and inorganic materials and so much more!

As we study our own soil, we can figure out its fertility and learn how we can encourage the soil to do its job. 

With this resource, students will learn about the importance of soil and its fertility. They will collect soil samples and then conduct seven tests on their soil sample in a 'stations' style activity.

The stations include:

1. Soil Color

2. Permeability

3. Texture (sand/silt/clay percentage)

4. Soil pH

5. Nitrogen Content

6. Phosphorus Content

7. Potash (K) Content

Finally, the students will calculate their soil's fertility based on these seven tests. Then, they will answer questions about what they learned including how they can improve soil that is weak in each of the categories they studied.

There is a decent amount of prep for this activity with gathering materials and setting up the stations. However, this resource has directions for each station and lists of the materials you need, including what you need for each station to make it easier for you!

You'll also most likely need several class periods to complete this lab-I suggest giving each station 10 minutes to complete and you'll need some time the day before for the students to set up for the lab in class.

DISCLAIMER: To use this resource to the fullest, you'll need to purchase a soil test kit to conduct the test at 3 of the stations. I use THIS one, but you can use another that tests for N, P and K. You DON'T have to purchase this kit. If you don't, then students will not do those three stations. Instead, you can have them research what the result SHOULD be in your area.

This resource includes:

1. List of Materials Needed  

2. Soil Kit Link and Description

3. List of Two Other Soil Kits You Could Try Instead

4. Teacher Prep Info and Directions

5. Teacher Procedure

6. Student Packet-Short reading, questions, lab directions, etc. 

7. Student Packet Answers

8. Tips on How to Use Less or Different Supplies for the Lab

9. Teacher Tips

10. Station Directions

To do this lab you will need:

• Pencil

• Paper Towels/Wipes for clean up

• Sink and/or place to dump and clean soil and water (make sure to have a strainer)

• Soil Samples-fill a sandwich baggie for each group or have students collect

• 1-200mL+ graduated cylinder

• 2-200mL+ beaker or liquid measuring cup

• 2-30mL beakers

• 2-Stop watches (or equivalent)

• Filter paper (coffee filters work great!)

• Soil test kit that tests for pH, nitrogen, potash (K), and phosphorus (such as THIS one)

• Color printer (for ONE sheet of paper, everything else can be B/W)

• Small straight-edged jar with lid (for each group) OR you can reuse plastic water bottles.

• Sharpie/tape with pen to label jar/bottle

• 1-4 Rulers

• 10mL beaker to measure soil

• pH litmus test strips OR test kit (listed above)

• 2 liter bottle or equivalent for each group to mix soil and water

• 3-10 Droppers

• Optional: calculators

• Optional: Borax (1tsp or 5mL for each group)

• Optional: probes or spoons to scoop and break apart soil

• Optional: Small funnel (around 400mL or more)

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If you have any questions, feel free to email me at edventureswithmrsd@gmail.com.

Thank you!