August 27, 2004

Students dig into soil science at Purdue judging contest

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue University Agronomy Club and the Purdue chapter of the Indiana Association of Agriculture Educators will sponsor the 33rd annual Purdue Invitational Soil Career Development event on Sept. 4.

The soil judging contest will be at the Forage Farmers for Research (FFR) Cooperative Research Station, which is located about four miles northeast of Lafayette, Ind., off State Road 25.

"Whether students plan on farming, planting a garden or building a house, the knowledge they gain from soil evaluation is tremendously useful," said Dan Gottschalk, program specialist in agricultural education at Purdue.

Event registration for those who want to participate in the contest will run from 7:30-10:30 a.m. The contest will begin at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at noon.

"During the contest, students will go out to the soil pits at their own pace in small groups," Gottschalk said. "Purdue soil science students will be present at each critique area to provide students with the official results and offer them tips and pointers on how to improve evaluation skills."

At the career development event, students will be asked to describe the characteristics of a soil profile in four different pits. While they are in the pit, they describe the color, texture, consistency, structure and other properties of each soil.

Gottschalk said that students evaluate the soil according to its fertility, water holding properties and organic content. Students also determine the slope of the ground, which helps determine the soil's susceptibility to erosion.

Based on the soil's specific characteristics, students make recommendations for its best use, and evaluate the site for building and its appropriateness for septic systems.

At the conclusion of the contest, soil descriptions are scored and the participants that come the closest to the description of the official judges win.

The contest is open to students in grades 7-12 who are enrolled in 4-H and/or an agricultural science and business class. A team can consist of three or four members. The three high scores will make up the team score.

More information on contest rules can be found by obtaining a copy of "Indiana Soils: Evaluation and Conservation," ID-72, or by contacting Gary Steinhardt, professor of agronomy at Purdue and Purdue soil judging team coach at (765) 494-8063, gsteinhardt@purdue.edu. This publication is available for $8 plus tax from the Purdue Media Distribution Center or by calling (888) EXT-INFO.

The cost of the contest is $3 per contestant. Checks may be made payable to Purdue Invitational Soil Judging Contest.

4-H and FFA advisers will receive official results via e-mail approximately one week after the contest.

For more information contact Gottschalk at (765) 494-8423, dgott@purdue.edu.

Writer: Meggie Issler, (765) 494-8402; missler@purdue.edu

Source: Dan Gottschalk, (765) 494-7317; dgott@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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