Today I took out the Moisture+Organic Sample Tests out of the incubator and weighed them for Organic Content.
I have now finished all tests and ready to write final report

Today I took my samples out of the incubator and weighed them.
After weighing them, I placed them back into the incubator in order to test for organic content on Monday.
(leaving them in for 2 days - weekend)

MOISTURE + ORGANIC TEST: (SOIL TEST 2)

Today also, I started testing for organic and moisture using the soil tests from round 2.

(instructions + equipment same as test 1)

• placed into incubator: thursday approx 11:30am at 60 degrees FOR MOISTURE
• take out of incubator: friday approx 24 hours later TO CALCULATE MOISTURE WEIGHT
• place back into incubator: leave approx for at least 2 days (weekend) FOR ORGANIC CONTENT
• take out of incubator: approx monday early morning TO CALCULATE ORGANIC CONTENT

ALL DONE

ph TEST: (SOIL TEST 2)

Today I tested for pH using my soil samples from round 2.

(instructions + equipment same as test 1)

results shown below;
beaker 1: 5.78
beaker 2: 6.59
beaker 3: 5.07
beaker 4: 6.55
beaker 5: 6.20

pH TEST: (WATER TEST 2)

Today also during class, I tested for pH using my water samples from round 2.

(instructions + equipment same as test 1)

results shown below;
beaker 1: 6.01
beaker 2: 6.07
beaker 3: 5.87
beaker 4: 6.16
beaker 5: 6.17

TURBIDITY TEST: (WATER TEST 2)

Today in class, I tested for turbidity using my water samples from round 2 testing.

(instructions + equipment same as test 1)

results shown below;
beaker 1: 24 NTUs
beaker 2: 16 NTUs
beaker 3: 10 NTUs
beaker 4: 27 NTUs
beaker 5: 10 NTUs

PRESENCE OF SALT (SODIUM CHLORIDE) TEST: (WATER TEST 2)

Today during period 1 I tested for salt using my water samples (2).

(instructions + equipment same as test 1)

results shown below;
beaker 1: 4 drops = meduim
beaker 2: 2 drops = high
beaker 3: 3 drops = meduim
beaker 4: 3 drops = meduim
beaker 5: 2 drops = high

= the majority of salt taken from these samples are mainly meduim/high

PRESENCE OF PHOSPHATE TEST: (WATER TEST 2)

Today during class (period 1) I tested for phosphate in my water samples (Sample 2).

(instructions + equipment same as test 1)

results shown below;
beaker 1: 0 = meduim pale yellow colour
beaker 2: 0 = meduim pale yellow colour
beaker 3: 0 = meduim pale yellow colour
beaker 4: 0 = meduim pale yellow colour
beaker 5: 0 = meduim pale colour

= as you can see there is no reading of phosphate present in the water being sampled

PRESENCE OF SALT (SODIUM CHLORIDE): SOIL TEST 2

Today during period 5, I tested for Salt using my soil samples from (Sample 2).

(instructions + equipment same as test 1)

results shown below;
beaker 1: 1 drop = high
beaker 2: 1 drop = high
beaker 3: 1 drop = high
beaker 4: 1 drop = high
beaker 5: 1 drop = high

= as you can see there is a high reading of salt in soil test 2

Today I began the Moisture + Organic Test again.
This time, it was done at home in the oven at 100 degrees for approxmately an hour.

Equipment required; 5 evaporating basins, electronic scales

Place in oven = 7:45pm
Out of oven = 8:45pm
Temperature= 100 degrees

PRESENCE OF SALT (SODIUM CHLORIDE) TEST: WATER TEST 1
Also today I did my Presence of Salt (Sodium Chloride) Test, this was done in period 6 today.

1. Firstly I gathered equipment that was needed; 5 small beaker, sodium chloride and gloves, waste bucket.
2. I then gathered each of the 5 beakers and poured each of the 5 water samples into each of the beakers.
3. I then started to drop drops of sodium chloride into the water samples, if no change has occured, keep adding drops until some change has occured (colour change).
4. After all tests have been done on all 5 samples of water, pour each of the sodium chloride solutions into a waste bucket NOT down the sink.
5. Record results and clean up

results shown below;

beaker 1: 2 drops = high

beaker 2: 2 drops = high

beaker 3: 2 drops = high

beaker 4: 6 drops = low

beaker 5: 3 drops = meduim

TURBIDITY TEST: WATER TEST 1
Today also, I did the turbidity test on my water samples.

1. First, I gathered the equipment that was needed which was only a turbidity tube.
2. I put together the turbidity tube.
3. Secondly, one by one I poured each of the 5 samples down the tube, stopping at every few seconds to check if I could see the 3 squiggly lines that were down the bottom of the tube.
4. When I couldn't see the lines, I poured bits of water out until I could see them. I then recorded information down and cleaned up

results shown below;

beaker 1: 16 NTUs

beaker 2: 18 NTUs

beaker 3: 10 NTUs

beaker 4: 40 NTUs

beaker 5: 10 NTUs

PRESENCE OF PHOSPHATES TEST: WATER TEST 1
Today during my free in period 3, I did my presence of phosphates test with the water i had sampled.

1. I first gathered 5 small beakers and a phosphate strip tube
2. Pour each 5 water samples into each of the 5 beakers.
3. Take a phosphate strip and place in each of the water samples for at least one second, observe strip where it was pink for approxmately 3 minutes - watching the colour change.
4. Out of all my 5 samples, the colour didn't change; so i could say that none of the water samples contained readings of phosphate.
5. After all this done, record results and clean up

results shown below;

beaker 1: = 0 (colour = meduim, pale yellow)

beaker 2: = 0 (colour = meduim, pale yellow)

beaker 3: = 0 (colour = meduim, pale yellow)

beaker 4: = 0 (colour = meduim, pale yellow)

beaker 5: = 0 (colour = meduim, pale yellow)

= NO PHOSPHATE PRESENT

pH TEST: - WATER TEST 1
During lunch time today, I did my first water test - testing for pH.

1. I first gathered required equipment; 5 small beakers, data logger, 1 dropper bottle dimineralised water, gloves
2. I then gathered each of the 5 beakers and put each of the 5 sampled water solutions into each one of the beakers.
3. Then I set up the data logger, testing each of the water samples (in between rinse probe with dimineralised water, in order for it to not get contaminated)
4. Record each result in a table, rinse beakers and clean up

results shown below;

beaker 1: pH = 6.46

beaker 2: pH = 6.39

beaker 3: pH = 6.25

beaker 4: pH = 6.33

beaker 5: pH = 6.63

Moisture + Organic Content Test - WRONG
Today I realised that I had done my "Moisture Content + Organic Content" Test completely wrong..
I started it correctly but then somehow I just wasn't thinking and I had thrown away the soil I had weighed after it came out of the incubator instead of weighing it and putting it back in the incubator for the Organic Content Test. I have now gone over this, and I am starting the test again but this time it will be in my oven at home, and then just bringing it into school to re-weigh.
I am re-doing this test on Monday 11th May.

MOISTURE CONTENT/ORGANIC SOIL TEST 1 - REDO:

START MONDAY 11TH MAY

PRESENCE OF SALT (SODIUM CHLORIDE) TEST: - SOIL TEST 1
Today during lunch time and parts of period 5, I did my 'presence of salt' test where I was testing for salts in the sampled soils I had collected.

1. To begin with I gathered the required equipment needed; 5 funnels, 5 retort stands, medium-sized filter paper, 5 larger beakers, 5 small beakers, 1 dropper bottle silver nitrate, 1 dropper bottle dimineralised water, gloves, safety goggles, spoon
2. Set up each retort stand with one funnel - having filter paper all ready inside funnel, and 2 beakers (one small and one large)
3. Once all set up, spoon out each soil sample into each of the 5 large beakers, add dimineralised water to make it into a liquid and stir.
4. Then pour each of the 5 liquids into each of the 5 funnels. Wait a while for it to filter through.
5. Once it has filtered through and there is some liquid in the bottom beaker, add drops of silver nitrate into each and record how many drops that have been placed in order to find out how salty the soil is. 1-2 = high, 3-4 = meduim, 5-6 = low
6. After results are recorded down for each 5 samples, clean up

results shown below;

1-2 = high, 3-4 = meduim, 5-6 = low

Soil: 1
Salt measured: 2 drops = high

Soil: 2
Salt measured: 3 drops = meduim

Soil: 3
Salt measured: 6 drops = low

Soil: 4
Salt measured: 5 drops = low

Soil: 5
Salt measured: 3 drops = meduim

pH TEST: - SOIL TEST 1
Today during lunch time I conducted a test on soil pH.

1. To begin with, I gathered the required equipment needed; data logger, pH probe, 5 small beakers, 1 dropper bottle of dimineralised water and a dish spoon.
2. Firstly, I dished out a small amount of soil from each of the 5 samples into each of the 5 small beakers.
3. Then I added some dimineralised water to each of the soil samples in order for it to become a liquid - easy to test.
4. After this, I tested each of them by using the pH data logger. I made sure that the end of the data logger (pH probe) did not touch the bottom of the beaker, I also made sure that it was just partially touching the surface, not all the way down hitting the bottom of the beaker. This determines the pH level of the soil being sampled.
5. Lastly, record results into table form

results shown below;

Soil beaker: 1
pH: 5.75

Soil beaker: 2
pH: 6.39

Soil beaker: 3
pH: 6.18

Soil beaker: 4
pH: 6.08

Soil beaker: 5
pH: 6.30

MOISTURE + ORGANIC TEST: - SOIL TEST 1 - WRONG

Today during period 6, I began and conducted my first test with the soil i had sampled at Centennial Park on the 3rd of May 2009

1. I gathered my required equipment that i needed for the first test which was "Moisture Content" for soil. Equipment needed were the following; 5 evaporating basins, electronic scale, dish spoon and an incubator.
2. I then weighed each evaporating dish on the electronic scale in order to accurately find the weight of the evaporating dish.
3. I then added a soil sample from each of the 5 areas into each of the evaporating dishes. After doing this, I re-weighed.
4. By difference, I then calculated the mass of the soil sample by subtracting the mass of the evaporating dish by the mass of the evaporating dish with the soil.
5. After doing this, I then placed it in the Incubator at 60 degrees at approxmately 3:04pm, results will then be recorded the day after (leaving it for 24 hours altogether) - this test will then result in which basin of soil has lost the most water by the process of evaporation.
6. After 2 days, I took it out of the incubator (taking it out on the 6/5/09 at 8:12am). I decided it to leave it for at least 2 days, just so I could get reliable results. I then weighed each basin using the electronic scale. Results below are shown;

results shown below;

Basin Number: 1
Weight of basin (g): 47.85
Weight of basin with soil (g): 77.86
Mass of soil (g): 30.01
Mass of basin with soil after out of incubator (g): 73.91

Basin Number: 2
Weight of basin (g): 40.49
Weight of basin with soil (g): 74.33
Mass of soil (g): 33.84
Mass of basin with soil after out of incubator (g): 72.12

Basin Number: 3
Weight of basin (g): 38.44
Weight of basin with soil (g): 76.37
Mass of soil (g): 37.93
Mass of basin with soil after out of incubator (g): 64.01

Basin Number: 4
Weight of basin (g): 52.66
Weight of basin with soil (g): 116.41
Mass of soil (g): 63.75
Mass of basin with soil after out of incubator (g): 102.64

Basin Number: 5
Weight of basin(g): 41.79
Weight of basin with soil (g): 64.43
Mass of soil (g): 22.64
Mass of basin with soil after out of incubator (g): 62.82

Centennial Park Sampling Photos

EQUIPMENT USED TO GO SAMPLING:

BOTH FOR ROUND 1 AND 2 FOR SAMPLING - SAME EQUIPMENT

• WATER: 5 plastic bottles, gloves
• SOIL: 5 containers, shovel, gloves

SOIL + WATER TEST 1 PHOTOS:
Today I went to Centennial Park where I collected both my soil and water samples from 5 sites.
I went early-mid morning to take my samples.
The night before (saturday night) was a rainy night, therefore, the soil was very wet and the ponds were dirty.

- this is a map of centennial park which shows the 5 locations i will be collecting my soil and water samples from.

- the 5 sites/areas i chose to sample my soil and water tests included; Kensington Ponds, Busbys Pond/Column Gardern, Lily Pond, Willow Pond and One More Shot Pond. From around these ponds, i sampled my soil from here as well

- equipment needed in order to collect samples for water and soil include;

• 5 empty plastic bottles (collect water)
• 5 empty plastic containers (collect soil)
• shovel
• funnel
• gloves
• pen, paper
• map for allocating areas and camera -

VARIABLES;

independent - the solutions of the water (round 1 + round 2 samples)

dependent -

controlled - no controlled

PLANTS IN THE PARKLANDS:
The Parklands features a number of formal plantings in its Rose Garden, Column Garden and in Frog Hollow.

Website: http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/environment/plants_in_the_parklands

TREES AND SHRUBS IN THE PARKLANDS:
About 15,000 trees grow in Centennial Parklands. Centennial Park have many particularly fine examples of Australian figs, evergreen oaks, exotic pines, eucalypts and paperbarks.

Website: http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/environment/trees_and_shrubs_in_the_parklands

ANIMALS IN THE PARKLANDS:
The reed-fringed freshwater ponds, relatively wild areas with long grass and native trees, and Lachlan Swamp provide significant habitat for many native species including possums, birds, bats and turtles.

Website: http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/environment/animals_in_the_parklands

ABOUT THE PARKLANDS:
Covering more than 360 hectares, the Parklands is one of the world’s finest and most used urban open spaces.
Centennial Park is a 189-hectare grand park in the Victorian period tradition featuring formal gardens, ponds, grand avenues, statues, historic buildings and sporting fields.
The Park is home to diverse flora and fauna and many significant tree plantings. It includes 10 ponds covering 26 hectares. .

Website: http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/about_us/centennial_parklands

This sheet is a risk assessment record - we need to fill this is in order to begin the experiement