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Kathy Rucker
Phosphorus and Nitrogen in Soil
Pollution and Remediation Experiment
July 26, 2016
Introduction:
Plants need air, light, water and nutrients to grow. Some of the nutrients used by
plants are found in the upper soil layers of the Earth. Phosphorus and Nitrogen are
two of the most important nutrients. Phosphorus is scarce in the environment and
specific conditions determine whether it is available to plants. Decomposing organic
matter, like fallen leaves, manure and compost, break down and release nitrogen
into the soil. This nitrogen is not always available for plants to use; because, clay
particles in the soil trap it, it leaches out of the soil and into the groundwater.
Due to these conditions of scarce phosphorus and wash away nitrogen, outdoors soil
has to be tested for nutrients:
Material Needed:
Soil from Atlanta Technical College Patio soil dirt from underneath a potted
plant
LaMotte Phosphorus in Soil Lab kit and LaMotte Nitrogen in Soil Lab kit
Testing Soil For Phosphorus:
1. Filled a test tube (0755) to line 6 with Phosphorus Extracting Solution
(5704)
2. Use the 0.5g spoon to add two measures of Phosphorus Soil (5714)
3. Cap the tube and invert to mix gently for one minute
4. Place the tube on flat surface and allow the soil particles to settle. Wait until
the liquid above the soil becomes clear.
5. Use a pipet (0364) to transfer the clear liquid to a second test tube (0755)
until it is filed to line 3. (Squeeze the air out of the pipet before you put it in
the liquid and it won’t suck up as much dirt.)
6. Add 6 drops of “Phosphorus indicator Regent (5705)
7. Cap the tube and invert to mix gently for 10 seconds.
8. Add 1 “Phosphorus Tablet (5706)

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9. Cap the tube and invert to mix gently until the tablet disintegrates. The
solution will turn blue if phosphorus is present.
10. Hold the tube against the white part of the Phosphorus Color Chart (5959.
CC) Match the color and record the Phosphorus test result.
11. This is the control. Repeat all steps except step 2 used soil from Atlanta
Technical College Patio soil dirt
Testing Soil For Nitrogen:
1. Filled a test tube (0755) to line 6 with Nitrogen Extracting Solution (5702)
2. Use the 0.5g spoon to add two measures of Nitrogen Soil (5713)
3. Cap the tube and invert to mix gently for one minute
4. Place the tube on a flat surface and allow the soil particles to settle. Wait until
the liquid above the soil becomes clear.
5. Use a pipet (0364) to transfer the clear liquid to a second test tube (0755)
until it is filed to line 3. (Squeeze the air out of the pipet before you put it in
the liquid and it won’t suck up as much dirt.)
6. Use the 0.25g spoon (0695) to add two measures of Nitrogen indicator
Powder (5703)
7. Cap the tube and invert to mix gently for 10 seconds.
8. Wait 3 minutes. A pink color will appear if nitrogen is present.
9. Hold the tube against the white part of the Nitrogen Color Chart (5968. CC)
Match the color and record the Nitrogen test result.
10. This is the control. Repeat all steps except step 2 used soil from Atlanta
Technical College Patio soil dirt
Phosphorus
Control
Phosphorus
Patio
Nitrogen
Control
Nitrogen
Patio
Dark Blue Dark Pink