Course:VANT149/2025/Capstone/Science/Team30

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the impact of different metals on the soil's water retention capacity, with a focus on copper, zinc, tin, and aluminum. These metals can affect the soil's water retention ability, and they are relatively common in both natural environments and polluted conditions. Soil water retention capacity is crucial as it directly affects plant growth, irrigation efficiency, and overall soil health.The research measures the changes in soil moisture content after exposure to each metal through controlled experiments. The goal is to determine whether specific metals enhance or weaken the soil's water retention capacity. The research results show that copper slightly increases water retention capacity, while the differences between different metals are usually small, indicating that their influence is limited under the test conditions. Keywords:

Biographies

Person 1

Wen Zhenyi is a first-year student in the Vantage One Science program at the University of

British Columbia. She is curious about how small chemical differences among metals can affect

soil water retention. Her project reflects her interest in using science to better understand and

protect the environment.