Rationale:

In open lab, the procedures to collect metadata such as percent water, percent sand, percent silt, percent clay, and pH will be performed.

Procedure:

1. Started off by cleaning the counter area with CiDecan and wiped it dry. Then, cleaned with EtOH (70%) and allowed it to evaporate.
2. Next, 10 mL of soil C was placed into a falcon tube labeled “KEA 9/21/18 Soil C.”
3. The “KEA 9/21/18 Soil C” falcon tube was filled with de-ionized (DI) water to the 30 mL mark.
4. Three drops of texture dispersion liquid were added to the “KEA 9/21/18 Soil C” falcon tube.
5. The “KEA 9/21/18 Soil C” falcon tube was covered by a glove and shaken for 30 seconds.
6. In a weigh boat, approximately 3 grams of soil C was added and weighed.
   • This weigh boat was labeled “KEA 9/21/18 Soil C.”

7. Both the “KEA 9/21/18 Soil C” falcon tube and “KEA 9/21/18 Soil C” weigh boat were placed under the flume hood.
8. To test the pH, a small amount of soil C was placed into a pH vial and it was filled the rest of the way with DI water.
9. The pH vial was shaken for 10 seconds and then settled out for 2 minutes.
10. Then, pH paper was used to determine the pH of soil C.
11. The pH vial was rinsed out with DI water and returned.
12. The counter area was cleaned with CiDecan and EtOH (70%).

Observations and Metadata:

• The empty weigh boat weighed 3.40 grams. The weigh boat with the wet soil sample weighed 6.39 grams.
• The pH of the soil sample was 6.00. The picture below shows the pH paper used.

Next Steps:

On Monday, the rest of the soil metadata will be determined. Also, a plaque assay will be run to test whether or not there is a bacteriophage in the soil sample that specifically targets Arthrobacter.