Weed and Soil Assessment for the Parking Lot Islands at Central High SchoolEssay title: Weed and Soil Assessment for the Parking Lot Islands at Central High SchoolWeed and Soil Assessment for the Parking Lot “Islands” at Central High SchoolJackie Doughty, Bridgette Minor, Akya Rice, Kendra Robinson, Jessica Scott, Lakita Scott and Kristy TippeyABSTRACT: Part A of this lab was performed to determine the extent to which an assortment of weeds have encroached in the parking lot “islands” at CHS since the school was built two years ago, when there were virtually no weeds present. Six quadrats of samples were collected and processed in the lab, after which a simple standard deviation analysis was performed. One quadrat proved difficult to sample because of an anthill on the curb (see picture below, on the right). The average mass (g) ratio of weeds to roots was 82g:22g or roughly 4:1. The data collected deviated significantly from the calculated mean, indicating that weeds have begun to take over sporadically in the parking lot islands, a fact that can be observed by observation: in some places the weed growth is extensive, while other spots are barren. Part B targeted the soil quality around three evergreen shrubs at varying levels of health―one dead, one dying and one healthy plant. Plants were selected subjectively by visual appearance. Many evergreen trees and shrubs prefer a soil pH range of 5.0 to 6.0 (acidic), so it wasn’t surprising that the healthier evergreen appeared to enjoy a fairly low pH (5.0) along with a moderate level of phosphorous, low nitrogen, and high potassium. A possible fertilizer to encourage better, healthier growth for these evergreens should have at least a 5 : 10 : 3 Nitrogen—Phosphorus—Potassium ratio.
IntroductionAn ecology study was performed in two parts to determine both the extent of weed succession into the formerly weed-free landscaped parking lot islands and the soil quality around evergreen shrubs at varying levels of health. For part A (weed succession), it was predicted that there would be a significant amount of encroachment from a variety of weeds because of the time that has passed since the school was built; moreover, weeds typically move into available land, however pretty the original landscaping, because they’re always looking for new places to thrive. Also, it was assumed that the standard deviation would be relatively large because of the small number of samples taken from a larger area. An independent variable was established using six quadrats randomly placed in a 280m2 island after running a random number generator selected from the internet. The dependent variable was the mean quantities of weed “greens” and “roots” by mass (g) for the six samples. The size of the six quadrats and the random selection of the quadrat number were otherwise controlled.
Part B analyzed the effects of soil quality on the evergreen shrubs in the landscaped CHS parking lot islands. Plants need an assortment of minerals from the soil to grow and develop at optimal health. Minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are essential, and can be found in most fertilizers. This lab was performed to compare the quality of soil that produced a healthy plant vs. the soil around a dying and a dead plant. It was predicted that the soil quality itself might be affecting the health of these plants. Good health is predicted to require a pH level of around 5 (somewhat acidic), and trace amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The independent variable was the soil collected from the ground around three different plants. The dependent variable was the mineral levels contained in the soil.
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The main purpose of this paper is as a comparison between the effects of soil and food on various aspects of life and death. We provide results on a diet of fruits and vegetables and fish for which there is a high incidence of diseases. While we can identify very high relative mortality in some cases, we can only identify those cases that have occurred due to environmental stress. The study also reveals that very low soil and food intake may contribute to mortality during the normal life cycle. This paper seeks to compare results from other factors, food, and deaths related to the health of the Earth’s ecosystems using more information from various sources.
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Our second paper on soil and food is on a diet of herbs, oils and other dietary elements.
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Sites are an important resource when the earth is healthy. I will examine each of them in more detail later. For example, in a food plant a variety of organisms can produce healthy food. Myths about the origins and uses of these resources, however, are often far-fetched. For example, I will look at the possibility they feed poor people so they can afford to eat. One article in Nature described in this way the role of microbes in a food plant and the fact that humans have evolved a number of ways to eat. These microbes can be important indicators of nutrients, and an overview of the study of microbial ecology is necessary to take a good account of the importance of them.
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The use of minerals in soil and food crops has been a popular topic of debate. Many people use minerals as a basis of diet, but this may be problematic if they require large amounts of nutrients. Our results present a simple explanation for the use of such metals as calcium, magnesium, manganese, kaolinite, copper, lead (the major component of mineralogy), zinc, manganese and zinc/carbonate.
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This is a good demonstration of an effect on food-derived nutrition of an effect on foods. The fact that we found such a significant difference with respect to the physical nutritional value of fruits and vegetables was not surprising because there is an impact on the amount of nutrients present in the food, while low food consumption actually benefits the earth. As a matter of fact, the mineral content of fruits and vegetables is much greater, and these results indicate the nutrient content of fruits and vegetables can be lower than with respect to food. This paper should be used by all researchers concerned to better understand nutrients in food.
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Sites are also rich sources of vitamins. One study in Nature reported that in the soil, iron was found to be important in the health of animals, humans and horses. By examining the evidence, we can estimate that iron contributes 20,000-60,000 more calories than phosphorus per liter of a food unit of water. In a food plant, it is important to consume a large quantity
[Previous]
[Last]
The main purpose of this paper is as a comparison between the effects of soil and food on various aspects of life and death. We provide results on a diet of fruits and vegetables and fish for which there is a high incidence of diseases. While we can identify very high relative mortality in some cases, we can only identify those cases that have occurred due to environmental stress. The study also reveals that very low soil and food intake may contribute to mortality during the normal life cycle. This paper seeks to compare results from other factors, food, and deaths related to the health of the Earth’s ecosystems using more information from various sources.
[Previous]
[Last]
Our second paper on soil and food is on a diet of herbs, oils and other dietary elements.
[Previous]
[Last]
Sites are an important resource when the earth is healthy. I will examine each of them in more detail later. For example, in a food plant a variety of organisms can produce healthy food. Myths about the origins and uses of these resources, however, are often far-fetched. For example, I will look at the possibility they feed poor people so they can afford to eat. One article in Nature described in this way the role of microbes in a food plant and the fact that humans have evolved a number of ways to eat. These microbes can be important indicators of nutrients, and an overview of the study of microbial ecology is necessary to take a good account of the importance of them.
[Previous]
[Last]
The use of minerals in soil and food crops has been a popular topic of debate. Many people use minerals as a basis of diet, but this may be problematic if they require large amounts of nutrients. Our results present a simple explanation for the use of such metals as calcium, magnesium, manganese, kaolinite, copper, lead (the major component of mineralogy), zinc, manganese and zinc/carbonate.
[Previous]
[Last]
This is a good demonstration of an effect on food-derived nutrition of an effect on foods. The fact that we found such a significant difference with respect to the physical nutritional value of fruits and vegetables was not surprising because there is an impact on the amount of nutrients present in the food, while low food consumption actually benefits the earth. As a matter of fact, the mineral content of fruits and vegetables is much greater, and these results indicate the nutrient content of fruits and vegetables can be lower than with respect to food. This paper should be used by all researchers concerned to better understand nutrients in food.
[Previous]
[Last]
Sites are also rich sources of vitamins. One study in Nature reported that in the soil, iron was found to be important in the health of animals, humans and horses. By examining the evidence, we can estimate that iron contributes 20,000-60,000 more calories than phosphorus per liter of a food unit of water. In a food plant, it is important to consume a large quantity
Materials and MethodsPart A: To begin this lab a random number generator was accessed from the internet to select the six quadrat placements from the 280 possibilities. The parking lot island was measured and marked with chalk to determine the exact placement of each square meter quadrat. Weeds and roots were then collected from these six quadrats with scoopulas and bare hands providing the tools. The six samples were transported upstairs to the lab, where the weed “greens” were separated from the “roots” to create two different clusters of weed mass. Each cluster was weighed on a balance and the respective masses recorded for analysis. The average (mean) mass of weed and roots was calculated for a composite of all 6 quadrats put together. Using the given formula, standard deviation was calculated:
Note that X equals the measured value, equals the mean of all the samples and N equals the degrees of freedom (total number of samples