Student Research Reports

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Soil pH plays a critical role in the amount of nutrients, plant growth, and ecosystem stability. This study investigated how different types of precipitation, snow, rain, simulated acid rain, and distilled water, affect the pH of soil. Initial soil pH was measured before each precipitation was added, and final pH was recorded after a set exposure time. Acid rain caused the greatest decrease in soil pH, while distilled water and rain water resulted in minimal change. Snow produced a smaller pH change compared to liquid precipitation, suggesting that lower temperature and delayed infiltration slowed the chemical interactions between precipitation and soil. These results indicate that both the chemical composition and physical state of precipitation influence soil acidity. Understanding these interactions is important for predicting environmental impacts of different precipitations.