Overview
Instructions by teacher
The below instructions are the same as shown in D2L
Project Report Writing Instructions
Please type your report following the guidelines below. Please include a copy of your data sheet with your report.
NOTE: You can write the introduction and methods before you get any data! Get ahead to save time later!
I. INTRODUCTION (10 pts) – Discuss the purpose of this experiment being sure to explain the various treatments (i.e. sugar water, wood, alfalfa) that were used and how and why these might influence microbial activity. Clearly state your hypotheses for each of these treatments (i.e. how you think the treatments would influence microbial respiration). (1.5 to 2.5 pages, double spaced)
II. METHODS (10 pts) – Discuss how and why the experiment was performed. Be sure to include balanced chemical reactions that occurred during the incubation and titration. Describe these reactions in full sentences. In addition, describe and show examples of each of your calculations; be sure to include the units and formulas.* (~2 pages of writing + ~1 page of formulas + reactions)
III. RESULTS (20 pts) – Using the averaged class data (also provided in the spreadsheet template separately on D2L), develop for all treatments tested across sections, the following figure and table:
1. Bar graph figure: the amount of CO2-C produced over the entire week, and
2. Table: the final soil pH, nitrate, and nitrite (“hardness” and carbonate content optional)
Then, in addition, summarize the results in words (~1/2 to 1 page of writing plus figures & tables). Do not write about how or why the results came about.
3. DISCUSSIONS and CONCLUSIONS (20 pts) (1.5 to 2.5 pages, double spaced)
NOTE: Be sure to refer to your table/s and figure/s as you discuss the data.
1. Discuss the following comparisons for total CO2-C and the daily CO2-C evolution rates
a. What is the impact of each amendment and sugar water on soil respiration, compared with the zero-amendment control? (CT vs SU, WO, and/or AL, as applicable)
b. How do results vary with C/N ratio? (wood vs alfalfa)
c. How do results vary with respect to amendment lability (i.e. molecule size, solubility, and complexity)? (sugar water vs wood)
2. Discuss why rates of CO2-C production and final soil chemical properties (pH, ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite concentrations) might be different among treatments. What may cause these differences? Why are individual types of inorganic N (ammonium, nitrate, nitrite) different? Total N? Explain why (or why not) the C/N ratios made a difference. You should consult with resources such as The Nature and Properties of Soils textbook and class slides for help. Document the use of your resources other than the slides or lab packets by making a References section (see example report). Generally, discuss the concepts of biodegradation with respect to the types of residues, their C/N ratios, and particle size of residues.
3. Finally, discuss the broader implications of this experiment. Which amendment treatment could have higher biodegradation rate? Assuming that oil (petroleum) has a C/N ratio similar to sugar water, what might you recommend adding to the soil to enhance bioremediation of oil spills? Would you recommend tillage or no-till?
*Example reports from previous experiments show calculations in the Results section, this is incorrect! Please put your example calculations in a sub-section of the Methods section, titled “calculations”.