To achieve this you will collect samples, assimilate lab and field data, and ultimately write a...

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To achieve this you will collect samples, assimilate lab and field data, and ultimately write a report that is supported your own data. There are more details on this task and marking criteria in the Learning Guide.An important note: We don't expect you to be writing your report every week. We understand you have other commitments. However, we can almost guarantee that if you start the whole report in Week 13 then you will likely not do very well. Find yourself some time and space every few weeks to work on aspects of your report (like search for land history, or soil types at the study sites, or assimilating data, or even completing some writing).By Week 4 you will have seen three locations at WSU (soil pit locations). Each of those pits are on different soils and have different histories.- You are to collate that information (site history, land use, etc).- You are to also collate the soil taxonomy (data cards you have been completing).- You are to collect data on soil biology at each of the three locations- You are to collect data on the soil chemistry- You are to collect data on the soil nutrient levelsAll of this data will be presented to a very high standard in your report. We can advise on the best way to present the data each week. You should then be working on formatting and presentation of this data at home.
With that information for the three locations, you will answer three broad questions for each of the sites:- Is the site suitable for inclusion as a conservation area (which can include things such as soil biodiversity, soil carbon, wetland function, or general ecosystem services)? (i.e. should we protect this location from development?)- Is the site suitable for development as an intensive cropping enterprise (avocado or improved pastures)? (i.e. would it be productive for these agricultural activities to be undertaken at any of the three sites?)- Is the site suitbale for housing development? (i.e. there is pressure in the Sydney-basin to develop land for residential dwellings and other infrastructure, if this was considered at any of the three sites would the soil be suitable to support that infrastructure?)Within each of those questions you will address the limitations of each site for those three potential uses. This will include reporting the potential limitation and if possible potential solutions that may remediate the soil to function correctly for that potential land use.

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Dr Shweta · Accepted Answer

Earth science Assignment: Soil biology 
Earth science deals with the study of solid earth, soil, water and air that covers the earth. This assignment is basically related to the soil characteristics and which type of soil is suitable for human use. For these three soil samples were collected from three different pits and analyzed as below: 
Three locations at WSU (soil pit locations)
1. Pit 1
Specifications: -
· Location: South West Tasmania
· Site History: Tasmanian island contains most spectacular lake, mountain, and coastal sceneries, national parks and reserves. It produces major share of Australia’s hydroelectric power and holds a great diversity of natural resources. The state is named after the name of its discoverer Abel J Tasman.
· Land Use: Agricultural land
· Soil type: Organosols
· Landform: Mountainous Island
· Landform morphology: Slopes
· Slope class: steep
· Landform pattern: Mountains
· Soil horizon: 0.4 m of organic material, peaty
· Soil carbon content: High
· Pedogenic segregations: Abundant
· Structure of soil: Organic material
· Slaking and dispersion: High
· Soil Chemistry: Rich in organic content 
· Colour of soil: Dark brown or black
· Texture of soil: Granular
· Permeability of soil: Low, high water retention capacity
· Soil Nutrients Level: 
High, rich in carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 
· Is the site suitable for inclusion as a conservation area? 
Yes, this site is suitable for inclusion as a conservation area as it is considered as world Heritage wilderness 
· Soil biodiversity: 
Soil has rich biodiversity and is a potential source of natural resources
· Mean Bacterial count: 
To calculate the mean bacterial count in the soil of this pit, the soil was firstly cultured on Tryptone Soy Agar and then after suitable serial dilutions bacterial number was counted by plate count method. The mean bacterial count in this soil is 1.8 X 106 CFU/g soil
· Mean fungi count: 
To calculate the mean fungi-count in the soil of this pit, the soil was firstly cultured on Potato Dextrose Agar and then after suitable serial dilutions fungi number was counted by plate count method. The mean fungi count in this soil is 1.1 X 104 CFU/g soil
· wetland function: 
suitable for wetland functions as can help to store water, slow water flows, reduce soil erosion, transform nutrients and helps in flood control.
· General ecosystem services: 
This area has soil with very rich biodiversity so offers a large range of ecosystem services like provides habitat for different life forms, retain different flora and fauna, potential source of food, timber, atmospheric oxygen and water.
· Should we protect this location from development? 
Yes, we should protect this site from development as this is a rich biodiversity site and maintains our ecosystem. For example, the large number of plants here generated large percentage of atmospheric oxygen, utmost essential for our lives. Similarly, it is a mine of natural resources like food, water, soil, timber, medicinal drugs etc. Therefore, if we cut or deforest this area for development in any way then we lost all these biodiverse flora and fauna and rich resources and this leads to ecological imbalance and natural disasters like floods. 
· Is the site suitable for development as an intensive cropping enterprise (avocado or improved pastures)? 
Yes, on account of its rich soil diversity, high organic material, high water holding capacity and rich carbon, potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen content this site supports the growth of desired high yielding genotypes and thus greatly increased the global food supply. Therefore, is highly suitable for development as an intensive cropping enterprise for different crop plants like of avocado or improved pastures.   
· Would it be productive for agricultural activities to be undertaken at this site?
Yes, for productive agricultural activities a site must have rich nutrient, high water holding capacity, high organic content, rich bacterial and fungal count. The soil of this site possesses all these characteristics and so is suitable for agricultural work.
· Is the site suitable for housing development? 
No,

To achieve this you will collect samples, assimilate lab and field data, and ultimately write a report that is supported your own data. There are more details on this task and marking criteria in the...

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