The document summarizes a student project that studied how soil moisture changes down a slope on the grounds of St. Mary High School in Jamaica. Soil samples were collected from three zones - the transfer, accumulation, and shedding zones. Testing found that the accumulation zone soil had the highest moisture content at 10% and highest organic content at 3.3%, while the transfer zone had 6.2% moisture and 0.69% organic content. Overall, the study found that soil properties vary between the different facets of the slope as predicted by the soil catena concept.

1. HOW AND WHY DOES SOIL MOISTURE
CHANGE DOWN SLOPE IN A SECTION OF
MY SCHOOL COMPOUND?
Name of Candidates: Tenesé Levy, Torrike Whittaker, Dontay Anglin
Center Number: 100112
Registration Numbers:
Name of School: St. Mary High
Year of SBA: 2018
Territory: Jamaica

2. HOW AND WHY DOES SOIL MOISTURE
CHANGE DOWN SLOPE IN A SECTION OF
MY SCHOOL COMPOUND?
Name of Candidates: Tenesé Levy, Torrike Whittaker, Dontay Anglin
Center Number: 100112
Registration Numbers:
Name of School: St. Mary High
Year of SBA: 2018
Territory: Jamaica

3. INTRODUCTION
A soil catena is a sequence of different soil profiles that occur down a slope. Catenas
show how soils can change down slope although there are no changes in climatic conditions or
parent material. It is an example of an open system involving inputs, processes and outputs.
There are three sections of a catena: the shedding, transfer, and receiving zones. The soil
types of each zone are varying but are linked to the neighboring facets. Additionally, erosion,
deposition and soil moisture content vary between the different facets. The soils of the receiving
zone which is located on the lower slopes tend to be wetter, deeper and contain more nutrients
than those in the shedding zone on the upper slopes. The shedding zone is an area of eluviation,
that is, soil material is transported from upper layers of soil to lower levels by downward
precipitation. This zone also tends to have good drainage. The transfer zone has the thinnest and
driest soil textures due to the presence of minerals in it. A transect is a line on a map that
illustrates where a cross section has been created. It usually cuts across a geographical feature.
Part of syllabus from which topic is taken
a) Section I: part j i)
b) Section II: specific objectives 18 and 20 constituents of soil and the hydrological cycle
Name and Location of Study Area
The study area is located on the grounds of the St. Mary High School, Highgate, St. Mary. It is
found in the 0412 grid reference of the parish map.

4. State why your preference area is a good one for a study of this kind
On the compound of the St. Mary High School, there are numerous slopes that display a typical
soil catena profile as shown in the text book.

5. AIM OF FIELD STUDY
The aim of this field study was to measure and calculate the amount of soil moisture at
three facets of the slope and determine the relationship between moisture content and the
characteristics of soil.

6. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA
The parish of St. Mary is located in the northeast section of Jamaica, bordered by
Portland to the east, and St. Ann to the west. St. Mary covers an area of 236 square miles,
making it Jamaica’s fifth smallest parish.
The area of study was St. Mary High School. It is an ideal area of study as on the
compound, there are several slopes that display a typical soil catena. It is located in the small,
rural community of Highgate. Highgate is at an elevation of 296 metres (972 feet) above sea
level. Its geographical coordinates are 18° 16’ 0” North, 76° 53’ 0” West. It is located 12.7
kilometres (7.89 miles) south of the parish’s capital, Port Maria.

7. METHODOLOGY
A field study was conducted on the grounds of the St. Mary High School in Highgate, St
Mary January 30, 2018 around 12:30 p.m. The purpose of the field study was to measure and
calculate the amount of soil moisture at three facets of the slope and determine the relationship
between moisture content and the characteristics of the soil.
This school based assessment consists of both primary and secondary data. Information
related to the topic of research was collated from the secondary sources Geography for CSEC by
John Rutter, Simon Ross and Alison Rae (2014), the Caribbean Environment for CXC
Geography by Mark Wilson (2005), Caribbean World: A Complete Geography by Neil Sealey
(1994), and the Geography: An Integrated Approach by David Waugh (1995) to validate the
information received at the site of study.
A long rope marked at 1m intervals, a spade, plastic bags, a camera, a stick 150cm in
length and a clinometers were the materials used to gather data when conducting the study. Each
zone of the catena was identified by using the stick and their distances were measured using the
long rope. The clinometer was used to measure the angle of the slope. To aid in examining the
soil profile, the spade was used to dig soil pits at the midpoint of each zone.
Soil samples were collected in plastic bags for testing. Each sample was measured using
the triple beam balance. They were placed in a crucible on a Bunsen burner to burn for 15
minutes each. They were then placed in bottles of water to observe their organic content. A
camera was also used to take pictures during the field study.

8. PRESENTATION OF DATA
The table below shows the comparison of the weight of each soil sample from each zone before
and after it was burnt two times and the moisture and organic content of each zone.
Weight Transfer Zone Accumulation Zone
S1 61.6g 90.3g
S2 57.8g 81.2g
S3 57.4g 78.5g
Moisture Content 6.2% 10%
Organic Content 0.69% 3.3%
Moisture content of transfer zone = S1 – S2 x 100%
S1
= 61.6g – 57.8g x 100%
61.6g
= 6.2%
Organic content of transfer zone = S2 – S3 x 100%
S2
= 57.8g – 57.4g x 100%
57.8g
= 0.69%

9. Moisture content of accumulation zone = S1 – S2 x 100%
S1
= 90.3g – 81.2g x 100%
90.3g
= 10%
Organic content of accumulation zone = S2 – S3 x 100%
S2
= 81.2g – 78.5g x 100%
81.2g
= 3.3%
When the soil samples were brought into the lab for testing, their individual weights were
measured. The weight of the soil from the transfer zone before it was burnt and after it was burnt
two times were 61.6g, 57.8g and 57.4g respectively. The moisture content of the soil when
calculated was 6.2% and its organic content was 0.69%. The weight of the soil from the
accumulation zone before it was burnt and after it was burnt two times were 90.3g, 81.2g and
78.5g respectively. The moisture content of the soil when calculated was 10% and its organic
content was 3.3%.
From these findings, it can be concluded that the soils of both zones contain more
moisture content than organic content. Also, these results show that the soil profiles vary
between the different facets of the slope. The soil of the receiving zone is moister and contains
more organic content than that of the upper sections of the transfer and shedding zones.
Additionally, an observation was made of the organic contents of each soil sample.

10. After being left for at least three days, it was observed that both bottles of soil samples
contained murky water which shows that the zones consist of mostly clay soil.
The average distance of the slope was calculated by dividing the sum of the values of the four
distances of the slope by the number of slopes distances:
(25.5m + 25m + 14m + 18.5m)
4
83m
4
= 20.75m
The median of the clinometer readings was also calculated. The values of the readings were
arranged in ascending order.
1° , 8°, 9°, 10°
8° + 9° = 17° = 8.5°
2 2

11. A graph was plotted of the distance of each zone against the slope angle.
From the graph, it is shown that the transfer zone had the greatest slope angle. The flatter upland
of the slope had the greatest distance.

12. The diagram below shows the different soil profiles found in the accumulation zone. When
measured, sand had a 1cm depth and clay had a 9cm depth. These values show that the soil
consists of mostly clay.

13. ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF DATA
On the compound of the St. Mary High School, there are numerous slopes. The slope that
was studied displayed a typical soil catena as shown in the textbook. The study covered the areas
next to the cafeteria to the garage of the teacher’s cottage.
The study began at the first zone, the flatter upland (plateau) of the slope which began
next to the school’s cafeteria and ended at the media room. This zone had an asphalt structure but
altered as we went further down the slope because of human and physical interferences. The
slope angle for the zone was measured with the clinometers and 1° was recorded. The distance of
the upland was also measured to be 25.5m. There was little vegetation in this zone because most
of the area is asphalt. Infiltration does not take place in this zone because of its surface type. This
was also the reason why no soil pit was dug in this zone.
The shedding zone started at the media room and ended at the culvert. The clinometers
reading of this zone was 8° and when measured, it had a 25m distance. Infiltration should take
place in this zone but because of the asphalt, it does not take place. However, the asphalt is still
eroded by the fast flowing water that passes over it when it rains. Rills were also seen on the
ground in this zone. They are a result of the erosion caused by the flowing water.
The next zone studied was the transfer zone. It began at the culvert and ended at the
incinerator. The clinometer reading was 10° and the distance was 14m. Water deteriorates the
asphalt in this zone and gully erosion takes place as the drain in this zone is blocked and water
flows from the culvert over this zone.

14. This zone is also affected by human interference. The tyres of vehicles impact the surface of the
slope which helps to change its structure.
The first soil pit was dug at the midpoint of this zone. Loam soil was found; it had a dark brown
and coarse, grainy texture. When the soil was tested, the moisture content of this zone was
calculated and 6.2% was recorded. The organic content was also calculated and 0.69% was
recorded.

15. The accumulation (receiving) zone was the last zone studied. It began at the incinerator
and ended at the garage of the teacher’s cottage. The clinometer reading of this zone was 9° and
its distance was 18.5m. Another soil pit was dung at the midpoint of this zone. Loam soil was
found. It had a coarse, grainy texture and a dark brown colour. When the soil was tested, the
moisture content of the zone was calculated and 10% was recorded. The organic content was also
calculated and the result was 3.3%.
This study can also be linked to agriculture and settlement. In the shedding zone, cereal
crops such as corn and millet can be found. In the transfer zone, cassava, irish and root crops
such as sweet potatoes can be found. In the accumulation zone, crops such as bananas, mangoes,
pumpkins, tobacco, melons, avocado, pimento and pineapples can be found. If a farmer was to
farm on a slope like the one studied, the accumulation zone would be the best to cultivate on. A
wide variety of crops can be cultivated in this zone as its soil is deeper and it contains the most
moisture and nutrients than that of the three zones.
If a house was to be built on a slope like this, the most suitable zone for it to be built on is
the shedding zone because of its good drainage; water will not settle on the land. To ensure
though, that the house is not affected by water, one would have to put in place a proper drainage
system. Gutters can be constructed to catch water falling from the roof and channel it away from
the house and its foundation.

16. CONCLUSION
There are three zones of a catena: the shedding, transfer, and accumulation zones. The
slope studied had an overall distance of 83m. The slope had an asphalt structure but altered as we
went down the slope because of human and physical interferences. Gully erosion takes place in
the transfer zone and water deteriorates the asphalt. Soil pits were dug at the midpoints of the
transfer and accumulation zones. Loam soils were found in both zones. When the soil test was
conducted, it was discovered that the soil of the accumulation zone had the most soil moisture.
Also, from the observations done of the organic content of each sample, murky water was found
which shows that the soils of each facet of the slope contain mostly clay soil.
This study can also be linked to agriculture and settlement. If a farmer was to cultivate
crops in one of the zones of the slope, the accumulation zone would be best to plant on as it is
wetter, deeper and contains more nutrients for effective crop production. The shedding zone is
the best zone to build houses on though measures such as the installation of proper drainage
systems should be taken.

17. BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS
Rutter, J., Ross, S., Rae, A.
Wilson, M.
Sealey, N.
Waugh, D.
Geography for CSEC, Macmillan Publishers, 2014
The Caribbean Environment for CXC Geography,
Oxford University Press, 2005
Caribbean World: A Complete Geography,
Cambridge University Press, 1994
Geography: An Integrated Approach, Nelson Thornes,
1995

18. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Content Page
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………...
Strategy sheet …………………………………………………………………………
Aim…………………………………………………………………………………....
Location maps
 Parish of study: St. Mary……………………………………………..............
 Site map: St. Mary High School……………………………………………..
Description of study area……………………………………………………………...
Methodology………………………………………………………………………….
Presentation of Data…………………………………………………………………...
Analysis and Discussion of Data………………………………………………………
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………….
Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………..