23/07/2013 on Plant Propagation Unit 20557 & Soil Unit 22175

Actual Temperature
15 degrees Celsius
Humidity : 80%
Rainfall : 0.00mm
Wind : Calm

My class was conducted by Lisa Short on 23/07/2013. In the morning section monitored on the seedlings such as "Lupin gallery mix" which is healthy and root growing gently, Sophora tetraptera seedlings are quite slow but there are more growth. Others seedlings are just growing slowly. Clianthus puniceus are doing good and they are healthy. Thymus vulgaris has healthy roots and doing good. Veronica "Emerald Green" has good root growth and plant is healthy. Juniper media blaauw the plant is healthy but growth is slow. Dianthus confetti seedlings showing good growth and healthy. Sweet pea - cupid drawrf (Lathyrus cupid) seedlings as good growth and looks healthy. 

As I saw the Digitalis summer king seeds are developing in a fully developed stage with many seedling leaves. Pricked out and potting on was done on this seedlings with 20 small pots.

The Soil Unit 22175 was with Lisa Short in the afternoon. She explained on Assessment on Soil and the first topic on Soil. What is soil? Soil components and plant growth are Mineral particles which small particles of rock broken down from the parent rock e.g. sand, silt and clay. Air in atmosphere found between the particles and oxygen which is essential for respiration of roots and soil life. Water from rainfall and irrigation and nutrient in dissolved form and life processes. Organic matter helps bind soil particles together and food for micro-organism to break down into nutrients.

Soil Formation are formed from the rock that makes up the Earth's crust. Weathering caused alterations in the nature of rocks and minerals to form soil and consists of two simultaneous interdependent processes. 

Physical weathering involves the disintegration of mineral matter into smaller and smaller fragments as a result of physical force. Examples are water freezing in a fissure, crystallisation of certain salt from saline solution, rain and wind blasting. 

Chemical Weathering requires both water and oxygen. Rain percolates through the rocks dissolving tiny amounts of rock minerals. Chemical weathering is more active in warm moist oxygen rich environments and is therefore more rapid in the upper surfaces of the developing soil.

Class adjourned at 3.00pm.