We started by asking the question “What types of soil exist in the prairie?”

After that, we decided the 6 out of 18(⅓ of the prairie) possible plots to use. And the ones we chose to use to collect data were plots 7,8,9,10,11,12.

We collected soil from the middle of 2 plots each (3x2=6)

The soil was taken from the first 2 inches of the plot

Plots 12 and 9 where grasses and forbs

Plots 11 and 8 where seeded grasses only

Plots 10 and 7 where grasses and 2x forbs

Forbs = Flowers

We took 6 beakers out then went to the middle of plots 12,11,10,9,8, and 7.

Then we filled each one up to ¼ to ⅓ of the way full of soil.

After we collected the soil we put about ½ cup to 1 cup of water in each beaker.

Once the water was in we added 1 tsp of dish soap any brand will work but we used dawn

Then we let them sit for a day or two so the layers of clay, sand and anything else could separate to be able to see the layers

Sand made up 61% of the soil. Clay made up 21% of soil and silt made out of 18%.

Plot 10 has much more sand than any of the other plots. And this can be for a multitude of reasons. Such as that particular area has less clay and silt than plot 11 that has more clay and silt which makes less room for sand. And with ones such as 8 and 12 have a good balance of the 3 because there is not an overwhelming amount of sand-like in 12 but not an underwhelming amount like 11.