LTER Data Catalog

Soil Physical Properties- Baseline Spatial Variability Study

Soil bulk density, and sand, silt and clay content were determined for an array of spatially referenced points prior to the start of the Main Cropping System Experiment.  

The standard data use policy applies to the this dataset

Context:

A spatial variability study conducted across the LTER main site area (45 ha) at KBS prior to dividing the site into 1-ha experimental plots. During the 1988 growing season a stratified unaligned sampling scheme was used to collect 400-600 geo-referenced samples across the site (uniformly planted to a single variety of soybeans) for:

  1. geomorphological characteristics (microtopography, soil horizon depths, bulk density, texture);
  2. soil chemical characteristics (pH, NO3, NH4, total C, total N, moisture, inorganic P, trace metals);
  3. soil biological characteristics (N mineralization potentials, microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N, fungal/bacterial ratios, nematodes and other soil invertebrates; seed bank size);
  4. plant weed species abundance, weed biomass at peak standing crop); and
  5. insect characteristics (major pest and predator species).

Most soil samples were taken before crop emergence, plant phenology samples were taken throughout the growing season, biomass samples were taken at physiological maturity, and insect samples were taken continuously. Dried soil and plant samples are archived for potential future analysis.

Experiment: Main Cropping System Experiment (MCSE)
Temporal Coverage: 1988-01-01 to 1988-01-01
Dataset: KBS003
Datatable ID: KBS003-001.20
Related Tables:
Personnel:
Last Updated 2010-03-23
Metadata
Variate Description Units
easting easting of sampling location in UTM 16N meter
northing northing of the sampling location in UTM 16N meter
bulk density gravel bulk density of gravel in mg/cm3 milligrams/cubiccentimeter
bulk density soil bulk density of soil in mg/cm3 milligrams/cubiccentimeter
sand percent sand %
silt percent silt %
clay percent clay %

Data Excerpt

Easting Northing Bulk Density Gravel Bulk Density Soil Sand Silt Clay
633981 4696121 0.021 1.5 49.7 35.7 14.6
634280 4696128 0.036 1.48 51.7 33.7 14.6
634081 4696127 0.025 1.31 41.7 41.7 16.6
633913 4696126 0.011 1.06 31.7 47.7 20.6
633914 4696128 0.014 1.08 31.7 49.7 18.6
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