Loss-on-ignition method

Knowledge graph centered on Loss-on-ignition method with 76 nodes and 184 connections. Top connected: Delphinium, Spruce, Atriplex canescens, Potentilla, Erigeron.

Method synopsis

Systematic excavation of 1-meter soil pits with depth-stratified sampling at 10 cm intervals for soil organic carbon, nitrogen, and dissolved organic carbon analysis. Includes soil profile description and photographic documentation.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 16 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Soil signals of key mechanisms driving greater protection of organic carbon under aspen compared to spruce forests in a North American montane ecosystem (2025), Biogeosciences. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Soil pit excavation and profiling
   Dug two soil pits roughly 1 m deep at each site. First series in summer 2020 and 2021, second series in summer 2022. Each pit face was photographed with high-resolution digital single-lens reflex camera to quantify rooting depth distributions. Soil profiles were described following Schoeneberger et al. (2012) methodology.
   Quantities: Two pits per site, approximately 1 m deep, total of 10 pits across 5 sitesDuration: Summer seasons 2020-2021 and 2022Conditions: Summer field conditions during growing season
   Equipment: shovels, D5600 Nikon camera, Minato City Tokyo Japan camera, measuring tapes
2. Bulk soil sample collection
   Collected bulk soil samples by depth every 10 cm intervals down to 110 cm depth or deepest possible depth. Samples were immediately stored in refrigerator or freezer until they could be ground, sieved to 2 mm, and analyzed. Additional samples collected by horizon for second set of pits in 2022.
   Quantities: 10 cm sampling intervals from surface to 110 cm depth, multiple samples per depthDuration: During pit excavation in summer sampling periodsConditions: Field sampling during summer growing seasons
   Equipment: soil sampling tools, sample containers, refrigerator, freezer, sieves (2 mm)
3. SOC and nitrogen analysis
   Determined SOC and soil organic nitrogen on subsamples using vario MACRO cube Elemental analyzer. Calculated C:N ratio by multiplying SOC concentrations by bulk density for each horizon. Applied acid treatment with 6 M HCl to remove carbonates before analysis.

Typical Equipment

• shovels
• D5600 Nikon camera
• vario MACRO cube Elemental analyzer
• 0.5 M K2SO4
• microplate reader

Output Measurements

• SOC concentration
• soil nitrogen
• DOC concentration
• C:N ratio
• soil profile description

Papers Using This Protocol (16)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used