Nt1310 Unit 1 Exercise 1

Graph 1, illustrates the pH of each quadrat. The pH in Quadrat 1 was more acidic than the pH in Quadrat 2, 3, and 4 this is due to the slope of the ground (refer to Graph 8), different soil substrate and the decomposition of organic matter. As can be seen from Graph 8, the soil pH increased with a decrease in the slope of the ground. In Quadrat 1, the soil had a pH of 7.5 due to having a higher soil elevation of -8° in comparison to Quadrat 2, 3 and 4, in which the slope of the ground was -2°, -2° and -1°, respectively and the pH was 9 within each quadrat. This makes Quadrat 1 more prone to acidification, as it receives more acid rain than soils in lower elevations. Quadrat 1 is more acidic than Quadrat 2, 3 and 4 because at low tide (Quadrat
Since, the decrease in the slope of the ground means the soil is waterlogged, the soil substrate is therefore affected. In Quadrat 1, the soil colour and texture was light brown and sandy, respectively, due to lower organic matter content (refer to Table 2) thus, increasing the rate of water percolation and infiltration (Plant and Soil Sciences eLibrary, 2015). Also because, the coarse soil has larger pores therefore, it cannot compress/store the salt and minerals, in comparison to clay soil, hence decreasing soil moisture/water availability, mineral content, and the pH of soil. As a result, the soil pH was more acidic than, in Quadrat 2, 3 and 4 which were alkaline, due to the soil colour were dark brown and the textures were clay (refer to Appendix 4). The colour of the soil affects the soil texture, which is affected by the slope of the ground; this is because the lower soil elevation the darker the soil colour hence, the higher mineral content, and pH level. In Quadrat 2, 3 and 4 the soil was basic, due to the carbon dioxide concentrations, alkalinity of the soil, hydrogen ion concentrations, and decomposed organic matter (Soilquality.org,