Introduction & Research Question
Our main research question is “How does MSU contribute to soil pollution?” and to take this question further, we want to ask “How does Spartan Stadium soil compare to other soil samples around campus in terms of pH level?”. In this project, the goal is to understand soil pollution and its presence on the MSU campus. We want to look at how various sources of soil pollution may have impacted the soil quality in areas around campus and in the Spartan Stadium. It can be assumed that on a college campus with a large population, there could be many sources of soil pollution. Additionally, one would expect that soil samples around a public college campus may be treated differently than the soil on a football field in a stadium with limited access. Therefore, through our experiment, we would like to look at the differences in pH level in the soil samples and see how the factors of the different areas may impact the pH and the soil pollution. Our hypothesis was that the samples from different points around campus would show a more balanced pH level than the samples from the Spartan Stadium.
Background Information
There are many different factors around a college campus can contribute to soil pollution. The Environmental Pollution Centers Organization reports that “Soil Pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals in soil in high enough concentrations to pose a risk to human health and/or the ecosystem” (Environmental Pollution Centers, paragraph 1). There are certain contaminants that can occur naturally in soil however, it is the levels in which they exist that can measure how polluted soil can be. It is important to keep track of soil make up to be sure that there is not too much pollution contaminating the soil. The Environmental Pollution Centers Organization also discusses different types of soil pollution and their sources. “Human activities that pollute the soil rance from agricultural practices, urban or industrial waste, radioactive pollutants, agricultural practices and biological agents” (Environmental Pollution Centers, paragraph 3). A lot of the background research for this experiment consisted of looking into soil pollution and the factors that influence the pH levels of soil. The Permaculture Research Institute outlines a few ways that soil contamination can be reduced. “Reforestation, controlled farming practices, bioremediation, reduce/reuse/recycle, using biodegradable products, reducing the use of pesticides and fertilisers.” (Bethany, 2017). Deforestation is a large reason for soil erosion, and reforestation is a way to combat this are prevent soil erosion from happening. In terms of farming, everything should be done in moderation, overcropping can lead to soil erosion as well and can be destructive to the soil. Bioremediation is a way to reintroduce certain microorganisms into the soil so that the contaminants can break down and reduce polluting the soil. “This is a perfectly environmental friendly approach since it allows nature to take its course thus restoring balance” (Bethany, 2017). This report shows that there are biofriendly ways to conserve soil and reverse the harm that soil pollution has on the environment. Additionally, there are plenty of ways to help reduce soil pollution as well such as recycling and using products that are biodegradable and better for the environment. A lot of litter and trash ends up in the environment because people don’t tend to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Products that are made of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials sit around in the environment for a long time and end up having a negative effect on the soil.
Methods
Initially we needed to gather the proper materials which consisted of a soil extraction device to remove the samples, distilled water to mix with our samples, and pH level indicator strips to measure the pH of the soil samples. Next, the first step for data collection in our experiment was to pick 6 locations to sample from, 3 from various points around campus, and 3 from various points in the Spartan Stadium. From the campus samples we chose a north campus sample, south campus sample, and west campus sample. From the Spartan Stadium samples we chose a sample at the 50 yd line, the northern 20 yd line, and the southern 20 yd line. We used a soil extractor to remove a small soil sample from each of the sample points. After collecting the samples, we mixed each sample individually with distilled water and let it sit for about 15 minutes. After allowing the soil to mix with the water, we inserted a pH level measuring stick into each sample to check the pH level. We then recorded our data for each sample.
Data Table & Graphs
Results
The data table above shows all of the specific pH levels for every sample along with the average pH level for the campus samples and the Spartan Stadium samples. We also calculated the standard error for both campus and stadium samples. The standard error measures and accounts for variability in the sample population. By calculating the standard error we can learn whether or not there is a significant difference in the data. If the standard error bars don’t overlap on the graph, it shows that there is a significant difference between the data. After calculating the standard error, we found that the number was actually the same for both sample locations which was 0.088 pH level. However, because the average ph level was different enough, the error bars did not overlap, showing there was a significant difference in data between the samples.
Discussion
While it is important to regulate soil pollution, I think our study of soil pollution factors on campus showed that the pH levels around campus and in the Spartan Stadium were both very close to a pH level of 7 which is the most balanced of pH levels. This shows that while there may be soil pollution on campus and in the stadium that impact the soil quality, there is not a significant amount to raise concern about the soil quality at MSU. There are likely certain regimens that are followed around campus and in the stadium to keep the soil quality balanced. I feel that there is not a large need to propose a solution or make changes at MSU to improve the soil quality, because the soil has a nearly perfectly balanced pH level. During this experiment, we did not face many challenges. We organized a well thought out and easy to perform experiment and got the results in an orderly fashion. Initially we did not expect to have such balanced pH levels from both soil samples and we expected to have a bigger difference in results between the sample locations. We could have faced problems when collecting our data or with our results but the experiment and the resulting data worked in our favor. If I could give advice to future group that plan to research this topic, I would suggest taking more samples around campus to be able to analyze more data and have a wider range to calculate standard error. I think it would also be helpful to conduct interviews with soil experts who work at MSU and could provide insight as to some of the factors at MSU and their soil quality.
Sources
Bethany, L. (2017, April 03). Soil Contamination: Its Causes, Effects, and Solutions. Retrieved from https://permaculturenews.org/2017/04/03/38249/
What Is Soil Pollution? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/soil/