soil
Discover the research of the OPAL Soil Centre
From the outset of the soils project, Master's degree students from Imperial College's MSc in Environmental Technology have been involved in its conception, design and subsequent analysis of survey data.
This has helped the soil centre to keep the project focussed not just on aspects of public engagement and participation, but also on the very real use of publically collected data for scientific research.
Explore the research projects so far
The following is a list of all projects completed up to September 2011.
Click on each one to learn more about the project and the results so far. You will also be able to download a PDF summary of the project's main findings.
Copies of the full theses can be obtained via the Imperial College library.
2008
James Bone
Laura Edwards
Elizabeth Stevens
2009
Victoria Butler
Ngai leng Chao
Aisha Gloudon
Artemis Kostareli
Filothei Panagiotakopoulou
Nere Ruiz
2010
Anna-Maria-Skartsila
Soil and earthworm quiz
Test your soil and earthworm knowledge with our true or false quiz
Can you decide which of these statements are true and which have been made up?
Click on the true or false text below each question to reveal the answer. How many did you get right?
1. Soil is the top layer of the earth's surface.
2. A teaspoon of healthy soil contains nearly as many inhabitants as there are in Britain.
3. A teaspoon of healthy soil contains approximately three miles of fungal hyphae (hyphae are a bit like roots).
4. Soils store more carbon than the Earth's atmosphere and all its plants, and so can help reduce global warming.
5. Soil is made up of layers and the plant roots and seeds are found in the layer called subsoil.
6. An average soil is 98% minerals, 1% water and 1% air.
7. The weight of earthworms beneath the farmer's soil could be greater than that of the livestock upon its surface.
8. Earthworms are a pest to the gardener because they eat the roots of popular garden plants.
9. Earthworms can make gurgling noises underground when disturbed.
10. The most common earthworm, a lumbricid has 5 pairs of hearts.
11. Worm casts (the little heaps of squiggly mud you see on the ground) are made when earthworms regurgitate dead leaves.
12. Several common earthworm species are parthenogenetic, in other words they can make clones of themselves.
13. There are only five different soils in the world.
How did you do?
11-13 correct - Excellent. You could be a soil or earthworm scientist.
5-10 correct - Very good. Discover more by taking part in the soil and earthworm survey.
1-4 correct - Good effort. Improve your knowledge by taking part in the soil and earthworm survey.
0 correct - The only way is up! Try again and see how many answers you remember.
World Worm Charming Championship
Teams from OPAL went to the World Worm Charming Championship in Willaston (Cheshire) on Saturday. This annual event has been happening since 1980, and involves "charming" worms out of the ground without using water or chemicals. Each team has a 3x3m area which they have 30 minutes to get as many worms out of as possible.
This picture shows Emma Sherlock, president of the newly formed Earthworm Society, demonstrating her charming technique...Emma's team managed to charm 51 worms, which we thought was very impressive compared to the measly 6 we managed.
However, this was nothing compared to the winners, who broke the world record by charming a collosal 567 worms!! I don't know how they had time to collect them all!
After the counting of worms had finished, the worms were tipped into a trench and we were allowed in to have a look through and identify the different species of worms.
Dissapointingly we only found 3 different species - Lob worms (Lumbricus terrestris), Redhead worms (Lumbricus rubellus) and Black-headed worms (Aporrectodea longa). But what the worms lacked in diversity, they certainly made up in numbers - in total, a staggering 21,797 worms were charmed out of the ground!
I'm already looking forward to next year. Must go, I've got to practice my charming technique!
- OPAL Yorkshire and the Humber
- Login or register to post comments
Soil sample month
Two hundred and fifty-seven samples collected!
It took four weeks, and a good few thousand miles, but finally all the soil samples have been collected. These have now been placed in pots, and two heather seedlings are growing in each sample.
Currently the seedlings are less than 3mm high, but within the next six months they will grow slowly, to around 5cm!
The next step is to collect some other data from the soil. I dry a sample in an oven at 85°C, and then combust it in a furnace for eight hours at 550°C. This will provide loss on combustion data, which essentially tells me how much organic matter is in the soil, as opposed to mineral matter, such as sand. This might affect how the heather grows, but I will have to wait another six months to find that out!
Now I am preparing for a summer of vegetation surveys around my heathland sites. If you want to see me in action collecting soils, check out this video:
There is also more fun science-related stuff on TestTube...
- Day to day life of a scientist
- Login or register to post comments
Soil Collection Begins
To start my nitrogen pollution experiments, I have to collect soil samples from every site.
I only need a small amount, so it won’t be damaging to the habitats. Each site has different levels of nitrogen pollution, so I am hoping that each soil sample with be different. Once I have collected the soil I will bring it back to my laboratory and grow heather in it for a number of months.
If all goes well, analysis of the heather plants will tell me if the soil fertility is different, depending on the nitrogen deposition from the atmosphere. Does the fertility of the soil affect the disappearance of heathland? That's what I hope to find out!
Currently I am germinating 1,050 heather seeds in the lab. I only need 250, but it is always best to overestimate the number of seeds that you think will germinate. I expect around 60-70%... we will see.
I will next update the blog after I have collected all my soil samples from across the country.
The survey begins!
The soil and earthworm survey has begun. You can now take part in one of the nation’s biggest public nature surveys and learn all about earthworms and the world they live in.
Your results will help scientists build a national record of earthworm populations and soil types across England.
Everything you need to take part, including full instructions and an earthworm identification key, can be found on the website.
Once you’ve completed the survey, upload your findings onto the OPAL website and you'll be able to view your contribution on our interactive map.
If you want to learn a bit more about earthworms before you head out into the field, check out our online earthworm guide, which includes profiles on all the earthworms being recorded in the survey.
We hope you enjoy taking part in this survey.
Survey events
Some of the OPAL regions are organising public events where you can take part in the survey and benefit from expert guidance and knowledge. Be sure to check your regional page to see what’s happening near you.
Take part
Join in our survey and discover the world of earthworms
Everybody can take part in the soil and earthworm survey - all ages and abilities. It's simple, fun and you'll be contributing towards valuable research.
How to take part
You need to download the latest Flash Player to view this video. Visit the website to download the Flash Player
You may already have everything you require if your school or organisation received one of our survey packs.
If not, print out a colour copy of the workbook and field guide below. You'll also need a few everyday items including:
- pH strips
- sachet or small amount of mustard
- sachet or small amount of vinegar
- plastic ruler
The survey should take you no more than 60 minutes to complete. Don't worry if you are unable to answer all the questions, your results are still valuable to us - even if you didn't find a single earthworm!
Need pH strips?
Email your address and the number you require to Laura Hill, opal@imperial.ac.uk.
Submitting your results
Please show care and respect to our environment.
The soil is home to many important creatures.
Once you have completed your survey, it's important to submit your results using our online recording form.
You'll instantly see your contribution on our interactive result maps.
Survey downloads - what you need to take part
 |
Workbook: Background information and recording sheet |
 |
Field guide: Instructions and earthworm identification guide |
||
You may download these documents for use in the context of the OPAL project only. All other rights are reserved.
Discover more about earthworms
Learn more about earthworms with our online guide.
See the results so far
View and analyse all the results submitted so far on our interactive maps and graphs.
Soil and earthworm survey questionnaire
Already taken part in the survey? We'd love you to complete our short questionnaire about soil quality and management.
Please send your completed questionnaires to FREEPOST RSCH-CHYJ-HYYC, OPAL, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ.
OPAL Soil Centre
Soil is one of the world’s most precious natural resources - help us find out more about it
Dr Martin Head of Imperial College discusses the soil and earthworm survey
Soil is vital for plants and for food production. It also provides a home for a vast array of life. Soil stores and filters water, and provides the important foundation for buildings. The world would be a very different place without it.
Despite all these vital functions, much less is known about soil than air or water. We need to build a greater understanding of soil so we can sustain its functions and tackle local and global environmental challenges.
OPAL Soil Centre research
The OPAL Soil Centre is coordinating the soil and earthworm survey and a series of research projects. We hope to fill the gaps in our scientific knowledge and encourage more people to get their hands dirty making their own soil discoveries.
Get involved
We want local schools and community groups to visit our study plots and work alongside our scientists. You can get involved by taking measurements of soil quality and pollution, surveying soil-dwelling organisms and recording your findings online. The data will be compared with past records to explore how the soil environment is changing over time.
Inner-city pollution
We want to learn more about soil pollution - the sources, how it moves through the soil and how it affects soil quality.
We are working closely with the Environment Agency and the Natural History Museum and are focussing particularly on inner-city areas, where pollution has greatest impact. This research will help with the future management of biosolids recycling - returning nutrients and organic matter reclaimed from wastewater to the land as fertiliser.
Soil and earthworm survey
We are co-ordinating the soil and earthworm survey, which is open to everyone. The survey aims to build a picture of soil quality and earthworm populations all over England.
Policy and regulation
If you are interested in learning more about government and EU policy on soil and soil biodiversity then please visit:
- Defra
- Environment Agency
- Natural England
- European Commission
- European Commission Joint Research Centre
- BGS Soil Portal
Contact us
opalsoil [at] imperial [dot] ac [dot] uk
OPAL Soil Centre is led by Imperial College, London
Soil and earthworm survey - join in now
Discover more about the world of earthworms and help scientists with valuable research
Earthworms are extremely important and play a vital role in recycling plant nutrients and aerating the soil. By taking part in this survey you'll help improve our knowledge of earthworms and the soils they live in - something we know surprisingly little about.
Get involved
Taking part is simple and fun. To get started, download our easy-to-follow instructions and earthworm identification key.
Enter your results online
Once you've completed the survey, simply submit your results using the online form. You'll be able to see your contribution instantly on our interactive maps.
Problems entering your survey results online?
Send your completed workbook and detailed information on your site location to:
FREEPOST RSCH-CHYJ-HYYC, OPAL, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ.
Please show care and respect to our environment.
The soil is home to many important creatures.
Need more pH strips?
Email your address and the number you require to Laura Hill, opal@imperial.ac.uk.
See the results so far
View and analyse all the results so far with interactive maps and graphs. Which earthworm species are the most common and in which soils have they been found in? How do your results compare?
See your earthworm pictures
See all the earthworm pictures you've submitted to us so far. Get snapping and add your photos to the gallery.
Play earthworm frenzy
You'll need fast reactions to catch as many worms as you can in the time limit.
Soil and earthworm activity sheets
Make your own wormery with the soil and earthworm activity sheets available in our Kids Zone.
Join in the OPAL air survey
Investigate lichens on trees and find out about local air pollution.
The soil and earthworm survey is being led by the OPAL Soil Centre at Imperial College, London.
Surveys
Help OPAL scientists with valuable research, learn new skills, have fun
You need to download the latest Flash Player to view this video. Visit the website to download the Flash Player
OPAL is running six surveys across England to learn more about the state of our environment, and we’d like everyone to get involved.
Surveys exploring the health of our soils, the quality of our air and water, the distribution of invertebrates, the importance of hedges, and the ways in which we affect our climate are running now - see below for details.
All ages and abilities can take part and your contribution will be important in helping scientists build up a picture of England's natural environment.
We'll provide easy-to-follow survey instructions and all the support you need.
Bugs Count - join in now
Join in a timed challenge to find as many bugs as you can. Tell us what you find and you'll help scientists learn more about how the built environment affects invertebrates. Don't forget to keep an eye out for one of our six key species.
Climate survey - join in now
Are plane contrails contributing to global warming? How do buildings affect the weather around us? Help us explore ways in which we affect the climate and how climate change could affect us.
Biodiversity survey - join in now
Is your local hedge a haven for beetles, birds, mice and other wildlife? Learn more about a hedge near you and the animals it supports. Discover ways to improve it and compare your results with other hedges around the country.
Water survey - join in now
How healthy is your local pond or lake? The animals that live there can give important clues about the water quality. Record what you discover and contribute to valuable national research.
Air survey - join in now
Discover what lichens can tell us about air pollution. Record tar spot on sycamore leaves to learn about air quality near you.
Soil and earthworm survey - join in now
Discover more about earthworms and the soils they live in. Contribute to important scientific research and help update our national record on earthworm distribution.