The Effects of Sports Drinks on Soil Acidity and Soil Protozoa

The Effects of Sports Drinks on Soil Acidity and Soil Protozoa

1. Introduction

  • Research Team: Lily Milstone, Sasha Lifchez, and Hannah Carroll

  • Objective: Investigate how acidic beverages, specifically sports drinks like Gatorade, impact soil acidity and the density of soil protozoa.

2. Background on Soil Protozoa

2.1 Definition

  • Soil Protozoa: Motile, single-celled eukaryotes, crucial for soil health.

  • Size: Ranges from 5 to 500 micrometers in diameter.

2.2 Classification

  • Ciliates: Largest protozoa, move using cilia.

  • Flagellates: Smallest protozoa, move using flagella.

  • Amoebae: Vary in size; some possess shells (testate), while others do not (naked).

2.3 Roles in Soil Ecosystem

  • Pathogen Control: Eat harmful bacteria and pathogens.

  • Nutrient Recycling: Provide carbon and mineralize nitrogen for plants.

  • Nitrogen Cycle: Crucial role in converting nitrogen gas (N2) into usable nitrogen forms (NH4+, NO2-, NO3-).

3. Soil Acidity and its Impact

3.1 Soil pH Levels

  • Healthy soil pH: Above 4.8 (subsurface) and 5.5 (topsoil).

  • Acidic Soil Effects: Strips vital nutrients, weakens plants, increases disease susceptibility.

  • Enzymatic action hampered in highly acidic conditions, potentially harming protozoa.

4. Research Problem

  • Primary Question: How do acidic beverages alter the density of soil protozoa?

  • Hypothesis: Acidic drinks such as Gatorade will increase soil acidity and decrease protozoa density.

5. Experimental Design

5.1 Variables

  • Independent Variable: Addition of Gatorade.

  • Dependent Variables: Density of soil protozoa, soil pH levels.

  • Controls: Use distilled water as negative control, measure protozoa density before drinks are added as positive control.

5.2 Procedure Overview

  1. Soil Sampling: Measure 20 cm x 20 cm plots, 10 cm apart & mark.

  2. Liquid Application: Pour measured amounts of distilled water (for control) and Gatorade on specific plots.

  3. Post-treatment Sampling: Wait two days then re-sample soil to assess protozoa density.

  4. Protozoa Examination: Stain samples, count under a microscope, and calculate densities.

6. Data Analysis and Results

6.1 Protozoa Density Calculations

  • Use formula to determine protozoa per gram of soil based on microscope counts.

6.2 pH Level Measurements

  • Measure pH levels of soil before and after treatment using test kits.

7. Key Findings

7.1 Results Summary

  • Water Plots: Initial average protozoa density decreased significantly after treatment (from 105,523 to 60,897).

  • Gatorade Plots: Initial average density decreased minimally (from 249,534 to 232,400).

  • Soil pH in water samples: Average pH decreased (from 6.5657 to 6.3737).

  • Soil pH in Gatorade samples: Increased (from 6.7172 to 6.7374).

8. Conclusion

  • The hypothesis was incorrect; Gatorade did not increase soil acidity or decrease protozoa density significantly.

  • The Gatorade likely provided conditions for protozoa proliferation and affected soil chemistry by introducing sugars that benefitted microbial populations.

  • Potential Design Flaw: Amount of Gatorade may have been insufficient to demonstrate a pronounced effect on soil acidity.

9. Further Research Directions

  • Repeat Experiment: Use higher concentrations of Gatorade to evaluate effects more clearly.

  • Investigate Bacterial Interactions: Examine changes in bacterial populations and ammonium concentrations in conjunction with protozoa density.