Multi-factor abiotic site characterization

Knowledge graph centered on Multi-factor abiotic site characterization with 71 nodes and 142 connections. Top connected: Delphinium, Atriplex canescens, Populus, elevational gradients, Artemisia.

Method synopsis

Comprehensive measurement of soil nutrients, moisture, pH, topographic aspect, and interpolated climate variables to characterize abiotic conditions at vegetation sampling sites.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 5 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 — Microenvironment and functional-trait context dependence predict plant community dynamics (2018), Journal of Ecology. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Map microenvironmental variables
   Obtain field measurements at each corner of each plot and then interpolate within each plot to produce a map at 10 cm resolution using ordinary kriging. Measure substrate surface temperature using dataloggers inserted into the upper soil layer recording every 20 min between 13 July and 10 August 2016, using median value per logger. Measure local slope using a clinometer and elevation by integrating clinometer measurements across the site.
   Quantities: 23 microenvironment variables mapped at 10cm resolution across all plotsDuration: Loggers recorded data every 20 min between 13 July and 10 August 2016Conditions: Summer growing season for temperature measurements
   Equipment: iBButton Thermochron DS1921G dataloggers, clinometer, elevation measurement tools
2. Measure soil properties
   Measure shallow soil moisture at 3.8 cm depth using a FieldScout TDR 100 probe inserted into the upper soil layer several days after a rain event in July 2015. Measure deep soil moisture volumetrically on cores taken at up to 10 cm depth, stratified by bedrock stratigraphy several days after a rain event in July 2016. Quantify soil texture as dry mass fractions of particles ≥4 mm, 2-4 mm, and <0.5 mm. Measure soil chemical properties for concentrations of copper, iron, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, total nitrates/nitrogen, organic matter content, pH, and electrical conductivity.
   Quantities: Soil samples from subset of 23 plots, dried at 150°C for 4 hrDuration: Measurements taken several days after rain events in July 2015 and July 2016Conditions: Several days after rain events to standardize moisture conditions

Typical Equipment

• soil sampling tools
• pH meter
• moisture meter
• compass for aspect
• weather station data

Output Measurements

• soil nitrogen
• soil phosphorus
• soil potassium
• soil moisture
• soil pH
• slope aspect
• climate variables

Papers Using This Protocol (5)

Species Studied With This Protocol