(CHEMISTRY)
Submitted by: Amrita Biju Bhaskar.
Submitted to: Ms Mini .
Submission date: 10/10/2019 .
Grade: XI
INDEX
1. INTRODUCTION
2. pH LEVEL OF SOIL
3. SOPTOOL GARDENING SOIL METER
4. THE PLANTS UNDER OBSERVATION
5. PROCEDURE
6. OBSERVATION and RESULT
7. OBSERVATION (II)
8. RESULT
9. INFERENCE
10. BIBLIOGRAPHY
INTRODUCTION
There are about 391,000 species of vascular plants currently known
to science, of which about 369,000 species (or 94 percent) are
flowering plants, according to a report by the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew, in the United Kingdom. Each one of these require different
amount of minerals, water, sunlight, heat and soil pH level. If all these
elements are not provided in the adequate amount (more or less) the
plant might suffer growth inhibition and decreased blooming and
fruiting.
Some of the most important minerals required by plants are Nitrogen,
Phosphorus, Potassium (Primary minerals), Calcium, Sulphur,
Magnesium (Secondary minerals), Copper, Zinc, Iron, Molybdenum,
Manganese and Boron (Micronutrients).
The time to wet the soil and the amount of moisture required by the
plant varies according to species. So does the intensity of sunlight
and heat; but these two factors are not in our control and thus should
be adjusted by using shade for the plant or putting it directly under
sunlight.
Even though all these factors are important, soil pH level plays a very
important role in the productivity of the plant. Henceforth, the pH level
of the soil in which different plants (potted) are planted shall be
recorded and later, if the level does not meet the requirement of the
plant, adjustments shall be made and change in productivity shall be
observed.
pH LEVEL IN SOIL
Soil pH is a measure of the acidity and alkalinity in soils. pH levels
range from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, below 7 acidic and above
7 alkaline. The optimal pH range for most plants is between 5.5 and 7.0;
however, many plants have adapted to thrive at pH values outside this
range.
The desirable pH range for optimum plant growth varies among crops.
While some crops grow best in the 6.0 to 7.0 range, others grow well
under slightly acidic conditions. Soil properties that influence the need
for and response to lime vary by region. A knowledge of the soil and the
crop is important in managing soil pH for the best crop performance.
Soils become acidic when basic elements such as calcium, magnesium,
sodium and potassium held by soil colloids are replaced by hydrogen
ions. Soils formed under conditions of high annual rainfall are more
acidic than are soils formed under more arid conditions. Thus, most
southeastern soils are inherently more acidic than soils of the Midwest
and far West.
Soils formed under low rainfall conditions tend to be basic with soil pH
readings around 7.0. Intensive farming over a number of years with
nitrogen fertilizers or manures can result in soil acidification. In the
wheat-growing regions of Kansas and Oklahoma, for example, which
have soil pH of 5.0 and below, aluminum toxicity in wheat and good
response to liming have been documented in recent years.
The adaptation of a plant to the environment starts with the adaptation to
soil and hence pH level of soil effects the future of all plant saplings
SOPTOOL GARDENING
SOIL METER
The soptool gardening soil meter is a very useful tool to measure the
intensity of sunlight received by your plants, the pH level
(acidity/alkalinity) and the amount of moisture in the soil.
It is very useful for small scale gardening. If adjustments are made
according to the readings of the meter and the particular plant’s
requirement, the productivity of the plant is enhanced.
Product description (by retailer – Soptool)
Support healthy plants: Soptool 3-in-1 soil meter help you know your soil
more clearly and care your plants in a more rational way. it lets you
know when to and when not to water the plant. You will never over/under
moisturise your plant’s soil again and helps you in controlling the pH
level in soil (acidic or alkaline). It is very light and easy to use:
step 1: move the switch to moisture/ph/light according to your
requirment
step 2: inset the probe of the meter to the plants' roots about 4-6 inches
step 3: adjust the position of the probe until the pointer on the dial swing
slightly
step 4: after 10 minutes, note moisture/ph/light level in the dial
step 5: remove probe from soil and wipe clean after each use
tips:
1. avoid contact with stones: don't press too hard into the soil; doing so
can easily damage the probe
2. After usage, clean and wipe the probe (or else moisture level cannot
be tested later)
3. Do not keep it inserted in the soil for a long time
4. Designed for testing soil, don't use it to test pure water or rigid ground
THE PLANTS UNDER
OBSERVATION
1. Gardenia Jasmine
It is an evergreen flowering plant of the coffee family Rubiaceae. It
originated in Asia and is most commonly found growing wild in Vietnam,
Southern China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Myanmar, India and
Bangladesh. With its shiny green leaves and heavily fragrant white
summer flowers, it is widely used in gardens in warm temperate and
subtropical climates, and as a houseplant in temperate regions.
FACTOR REQUIREMENT
1. pH level 5.0 – 6.0
2. Nature of soil Acidic
3. amount of water required 1 inch per week
4. exposure to sunlight Partial
2. Pinwheel Jasmine
It is an evergreen shrub native to India and now cultivated
throughout South East Asia and the warmer regions of continental Asia.
In zones where it is not hardy it is grown as a house/glasshouse plant for
its attractive flowers and foliage. The stem exudes a milky latex when
broken, whence the name milk flower
FACTOR REQUIREMENT
1. pH level 4.9 – 8.3
2. Nature of soil Acidic/Basic
3. amount of water required Average
4. exposure to sunlight Full / partial
3. Red rose
A rose is a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa, in the
family Rosaceae, or the flower it bears. There are over three
hundred species and thousands of cultivars. They form a group of plants
that can be erect shrubs, climbing, or trailing, with stems that are often
armed with sharp prickles. Flowers vary in size and shape and are
usually large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows
and reds.
FACTOR REQUIREMENT
1. pH level 6.0 – 6.9
2. Nature of soil Acidic
3. amount of water required 2 inches of water a week
4. exposure to sunlight Eight hours of sunlight per day
4. Peach Rose
Peach Rose is a flowering shrub plant species of genus Rosa in the family
rosaceae, roses are one of the most cultivated flowering plants which are
mostly native to Asia. Rose flowers are extremely fragrant by own unless that
the species developed for large and multi shade blooms for commercial
cultivation.
FACTOR REQUIREMENT
1. pH level 6.0 – 7.0
2. Nature of soil Acidic
3. amount of water required 1.5 inches a week
4. exposure to sunlight Partial for 8 hrs
5. Jasmine
Jasmine can be either deciduous (leaves falling in autumn)
or evergreen (green all year round), and can be erect, spreading, or
climbing shrubs and vines. Their leaves are borne in opposing or
alternating arrangement and can be of simple, trifoliate, or pinnate
formation. The flowers are typically around 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in diameter.
They are white or yellow in color, although in rare instances they can be
slightly reddish.
FACTOR REQUIREMENT
1. pH level 4.9 – 8.3
2. Nature of soil Basic/acidic
3. amount of water required 1.5 l a week
4. exposure to sunlight Bright sunlight
6. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed plant growing to 60–
100 cm (24–39 in) tall, spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and
fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing white flecks on
their upper and lower stem surfaces. The margin of the leaf
is serrated and has small white teeth.
FACTOR REQUIREMENT
1. pH level 7.0 – 8.5
2. Nature of soil Basic
3. amount of water required Water every 3 weeks
4. exposure to sunlight Full sun
7. Dwarf White Orchid
Bauhinia is a species of flowering shrub native to tropical
southeastern Asia. Common names include dwarf white
bauhinia, white orchid-tree and snowy orchid-tree. The exact native
range is obscure due to extensive cultivation, but probably
from Malaysia, Indonesia (Java, Borneo, Kalimantan, Lesser Sunda
Islands), and the Philippines.
FACTOR REQUIREMENT
1. pH level 6.75
2. Nature of soil Acidic
3. amount of water required Leave waterlogged seasonally
4. exposure to sunlight Full
8. Mexican rose
It is a small, but fast-growing annual plant growing to 30 cm tall, though
usually less. However, if it is cultivated properly, it can easily reach this
height. The leaves are thick and fleshy, up to 2.5 cm long, arranged
alternately or in small clusters. The flowers are 2.5–3 cm diameter with
five petals, variably red, orange, pink, white, and yellow.
FACTOR REQUIREMENT
1. pH level 6.0 – 6.9
2. Nature of soil Acidic
3. amount of water required Low
4. exposure to sunlight Full
9. Madagascar periwinkle
Catharanthus roseus, commonly known as , Madagascar
periwinkle, is a species of flowering plant in the dogbane
family Apocynaceae. It is native and endemic to Madagascar, but grown
elsewhere as an ornamental and medicinal plant, a source of
the drugs vincristine and vinblastine, used to treat cancer. It was
formerly included in the genus Vinca as Vinca rosea.
FACTOR REQUIREMENT
1. pH level 6.0 – 8.0
2. Nature of soil Acidic/basic
3. amount of water required Water only if dehydrated
4. exposure to sunlight Should not be exposed to sun
10. Gerbera
Gerbera is a genus of plants in the Asteraceae (daisy family). It was
named in honour of German botanist and medical doctor Traugott
Gerbert.. Gerbera is native to tropical regions of South
America, Africa and Asia. The first scientific description of
a Gerbera was made by J.D.
FACTOR REQUIREMENT
1. pH level 5.5 – 6.5
2. Nature of soil Acidic
3. amount of water required 500 – 700ml per day
4. exposure to sunlight 65%
PROCEDURE
1. Set the Gardening soil meter to pH evaluation mode
2. Insert the probe of the Gardening soil meter into root level
(approximate) and leave it on for 10 minutes
3. Record the reading shown by the dial as in the following picture
4. Compare the observation with the requirements of the plant under
observation.
5. For alkaline soil – add limestone. For acidic soil – add acidifying
fertilizers. This is done to provide suitable pH level for the plant
6. After a month, check the growth and flowering of the plant to
derive a conclusion
Precaution
Make sure that the Gardening soil meter is clean before use to
avoid inaccurate readings
While inserting the probe, make sure that the root of the plant is
left unharmed.
Do not leave the probe in the soil for a long time to avoid
inaccurate readings
Add the base or acidic substance to the soil in very little amounts
During the one month observation, pruning of the plant must not
be avoided.
OBSERVATION
1. Gardenia jasmine 6. Aloe Vera
Observed – 7.0 - 8.0 Observed – 7.0 – 8.0
Required – 5.0 – 6.0 Required – 7.0 – 8.5
2. Pinwheel jasmine 7. Dwarf White Orchid
Observed – 7.5 - 8.0 Observed – 7.0 – 8.0
Required – 4.9 – 8.3 Required - 6.75
3. Red rose 8. Mexican rose
Observed – 7.0 – 8.0 Observed – 7.5 – 8.0
Required – 6.0 – 6.9 Required - 6.0 – 6.9
4. Peach rose 9. Madagascar periwinkle
Observed – 7.0 – 8.0 Observed – 7.0 – 7.5
Required – 6.0 – 7.0 Required - 6.0 – 8.0
5. Jasmine 10. Gerbera
Observed – 7.0 – 8.0 Observed - 7.5 – 8.0
Required – 4.9 – 8.3 Required - 5.5 – 6.5
RESULT
Soil requirements not met for – Gardenia jasmine, red rose, gerbera,
Mexican rose and dwarf white orchid
Soil requirement is met for – pinwheel jasmine, peach rose, jasmine,
Madagascar periwinkle and aloe vera
OBSERVATION (II)
Picture wise comparison
1. Gardenia Jasmine
2. pinwheel jasmine
3. Red rose
5. peach rose
6. jasmine
7. dwarf white orchid
8. Mexican rose
9. madagascar periwinkle
10. Gerbera
RESULT
The Observation shows that the flowering and growth of the plant has changed
remarkably. It also show the difference in colour and health of both the plant and the
flowers.
Individual results
1.Gardenia jasmine
2. pinwheel jasmine
3. red rose
4. peach rose
5. jasmine
6. Aloe Vera
7. dwarf white orchid
8. Mexican rose
9. Madagascar periwinkle
10. Gerbera
INFERENCE
All the plants have shown remarkable change after the adjustment of pH
level of the soil. This experiment thus enhances the importance of the
pH level of the soil for the plant for its proper growth and boosted
flowering.
This pH level adjustment is not only applicable for decorative plants, but
for all types of vegetative and fruiting plant bodies too.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. importance of soil pH –
https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/2002/5-24-2002/soilph.html
2. Soptool gardening soil meter –
https://www.amazon.in/Soptool-3-Gardening-Hydroponic-Tool/dp/B07H92H2ZR
3. Gardenia jasmine –
https://www.gardenia.net/guide/learn-how-to-grow-and-care-for-your-gardenia
4. pinwheel jasmine –
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/yellow-leaves-jasmine-42628.html
5. red rose
Wikipedia
6. peach rose –
https://www.mashrita.com/product/peach-rose-plant/
7. jasmine-
Wikipedia
8. aloe vera-
Wikipedia
9. dwarf white orchid –
Wiki
10. Mexican Rose
Wiki
11. Madagascar periwinkle
Wiki
12. gerbera
Wiki
13. make alkaline soil acidic
http://agverra.com/blog/soil-ph/
14. make acidic soil alkaline
https://m.wikihow.com/Adjust-Soil-pH
