Two student groups from Humboltgymnasium Soligen have used the numerous quantitative and semi-quantitative analysis methods of the VISOCOLOR Reagent Case for Soil Analysis to investigate soil quality as part of the German science contest "Jugend forscht 2023".
Donata G., Vinh N., and Emil W. from Class 6b were inspired by experiments carried out in the Arizona desert in the 1990s, where scientists studied the ability of plants to survive in hermetically sealed bottle gardens. They planted ten bottle gardens with different soils and plants and monitored the plants for several weeks. The soils were analyzed for pH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate and potassium content using the VISOCOLOR Reagent Case for Soil Analysis. Despite the formation of mold and the rather moderate growth of most of the plants in the bottle gardens, the three students impressed the jury at the regional competition in Solingen with their presentation of the test results, as their teacher Dr. Ulrike Hergert proudly reports. They were delighted to take second place in the "Schüler experimentieren" (Students experiment) section of the competition for students under 15 and to win the prize for the best visual stand in their age group.
Leo B. from class Q1 was even more successful. He examined the root development of the bush bean Maya in three different soils from a farm of a farmer in Solingen. He used the VISOCOLOR Reagent Case for Soil Analysis to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the soil quality in terms of mineral content, pH value, soil density and soil type. He also studied root growth in different soils using self-made rhizotron systems, which allow roots to be observed in the soil through viewing windows. For his work, he was awarded the special “Umwelt” (Environment) prize at the regional competition in Solingen and qualified for the competition in Bochum as regional winner in the 15+ age group. In Bochum, he was awarded third place in the biology section.
Both projects could only be realized with the support of the Jugend forscht sponsor pool NRW and a favorable offer from MACHEREY-NAGEL for the VISOCOLOR Reagent Case for Soil Analysis.
Find out more about the VISOCOLOR Reagent Case for Soil Analysis here.
