Clay : 8.14%
Silt : 15.4%
Sandy : 76.46%
Taking aid of the soil structure pyramid , I deduced that the soil at the foothill is Loamy Sand .
At habitat adjacent to the pond (mid altitude) :
Moisture content = Initial wt. – Dry wt.
= 10g – 7.548g
= 2.452g of moisture/10g of soil
Nitrate Content = 5 ppm
Phosphate content = 35 ppm
pH = 7.37
Conductivity = 0.001
Soil Analysis :
Total % of the different soil structures present in the given soil sample are:
Clay : 5.828%
Silt : 71.35%
Sandy : 22.8%
Taking aid of the soil structure pyramid , I deduced that the soil at
the foothill is Silt Loam .
Conclusion : While differentiating between the soil samples at different altitudes , I have concluded that the soil structure varies to a great extent , not only due to altitude as an important factor but also many other factors that are related to altitude. It is noted that the concentration of silt is considerably increased by increased in altitude as it is lighter than sand and hence can be pulled higher and farther by the wind.
Evaluation : While performing experiments with soil samples it is adequate to know that it is vital to carry out the experiment with minimal calculated error.
When finding the moisture content of the soil , it is to be seen that the soil is completely dried in the incubator. If it is not completely dried , the readings would be ambiguous and would not give the perfect value.
It is also important that the weight of the soil sample should be such that it finally becomes constant when viewing on the display screen of the weighing meter. In this case there has to be a tinge of patience when calculating the weight so as to achieve the exact value.
2) Dissolved Oxygen in the Stream
Aim : To calculate the amount of dissolved oxygen of equal samples in a stream at different altitudes.
Data Collection : The water samples from the stream were collected in 200 ml bottles which were carried to the laboratory for measuring the level of dissolve oxygen.
At Source 1 : Highest Altitude
At Source 2 : Mid – Altitude
At Source 3 : Foot hill
Data Processing : The data processing was done in the laboratory after the water samples were collected from the national park.
Formula : ( B.R x Normality of Titrant x 8 x100 )
V2 x (V1 – V)
( V1 )
Legend:
B.R= Burette Reading
V2 = Volume of contents titrated = 25 ml
V1 = Volume of contents in B.O.D bottle = 125 ml
V = Volume of wrinklers A & B = 2ml
Normality of Titrant = 0.0125
Source 1 : Highest Altitude
Average = 1+1+1+1.1+0.9
5
= 1ml
Dissolved Oxygen = ( 1 x 0.0125 x 8 x 100 )
25 x ( 125 – 2)
(125)
= 3.252 mgO2/ ltr
At Source 2 : Mid – Altitude
Average = 1.4 + 1.3 +1.4 + 1.3 + 1.3
5
= 1.34 ml
Dissolved Oxygen = ( 1.34 x 0.0125 x 8 x 100 )
25 x ( 125 – 2)
(125)
= 4.06 mgO2/ltr
At Source 3 : Foot hill
Average = 1.4 + 1.3 +1.5 + 1.4 + 1.4
5
= 1.40 ml
Dissolved Oxygen = ( 1.40 x 0.0125 x 8 x 100 )
25 x ( 125 – 2)
(125)
= 4.552 mgO2/ltr
Conclusion : After going through data collection and processing I have come to this conclusion that the measure of dissolved oxygen in the 3 water samples are in this pattern.
D.O in Source 3 > D.O in Source 2 > D.O in Source 1
There is peculiar observation that has made me conclude that (in this case) , as there is an increase in the height of altitude , the level of dissolved oxygen has decreased .
Evaluation : It was mandatory for me to keep some measures in mind before performing the experiment as there are certain errors that can cause a hindrance in the functioning as well as in the readings during the experiment
→ The water in the B.O.D bottle may not reach up to the brim of the bottle because of which there would be an introduction of an air bubble into the bottle and would give the wrong readings. To get rid of such an error , I poured the water slowly and steadily from the sides of the bottle so as to stop the entrance of the air buuble.
→ While viewing the level of water in the burette it necessary to view the water at lower meniscus. This is the perfect reading of the water in the burette and brings about exactness in the reading. So as to bring about this accurateness I kept my eye in level to the water level’s lower meniscus, as it is occasionally misinterpreted.
→ While pouring the water from the burette into the conical flask to convert the liquid from bluish-black to colourless , sometimes more than one drop of
Sodium thiosulphate is added which can hinder the accurate readings on the burette. In this case, I poured the liquid drop by drop, with patience and steadiness ,into the conical flask so as to get a perfect reading by turning the knob of the burette as soon as one drop is poured into the flask.
→ One of the most prominent limitations in this experiment is that if the B.O.D is closed very tightly it is really difficult to open it up. Hence I just rotated the cap to small extent once the B.O.D bottle was filled with water.
3) Biodiversity Index ( using Quadrat )
Aim : To calculate the biodiversity index using the quadrat method at different altitudes for the botanical species.
Data Collection :
At Foothill :
At habitat adjacent to the pond (mid altitude ) :
(R= moss)
At Foothill:
At habitat adjacent to the pond ( mid altitude):
Data Processing : The SIMPSON INDEX (diversity index) of all the species is listed in the form of a table :
General Formula : Diversity (D) = { N(N-1)} / { ∑n(n-1) }
Where,
N= Sum of all the individuals of species
1-infinite diversity (more diversity)
∞ – finite diversity (less diversity)
At Foothill :
At habitat adjacent to the pond ( mid altitude) :
Conclusion : After studying the population and count of the various botanical species , I have concluded that the diversity of species is greater at the foothill (lowest altitude ) where as the diversity at mid-altitude is considerably less. Though the count of species in habitat adjacent to the pond is higher , the variety of it’s species is considerably low.
Evaluation : While forming this experiment there could have been certain errors which could have hampered the flow of the experiment or would have affected the readings or the species count in the quadrat.
→The roots of the plant species may be fixed in 1 quadrat and its shoots or off-shoots would appear in another quadrat. Anyone could get deceived by this , I was really attentive while performing this experiment. It is necessary to count the plant species according the position of their root in the quadrat and should not be included in the quadrat in which it’s shoot appears.
→Some of the plant species are in their early growing stages hence they would be covered by the plant species that have already matured and grown. So it is mandatory to look in between the plant species to search for the young plant species.
→Few of the plant species , like the dead leaves or the dead flowers on the ground or on the plants which may not be alive should not be included while counting those particular plant species.
→ Accidentally stamping the plants within the quadrat, or sometimes when it’s shoots are jutting out of the quadrat can alter the count of the plant species ,so it is necessary to be careful while performing such a delicate experiment.
