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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167478
Title: SAMPLING DYNAMIC SOIL PROPERTIES FOR SOIL SURVEYS: LESSONS LEARNED

Author
item TUGEL, ARLENE - NRCS
item LOOMIS, L - NRCS
item ANDREWS, S - NRCS
item DYESS, J - U.S. FOREST SERVICE
item Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff
item PEACOCK, G - NRCS
item BIGGAM, P - USDI-NATL PARK SERVICE

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/13/2004
Publication Date: 6/13/2004
Citation: Tugel, A.J., Loomis, L., Andrews, S., Dyess, J., Herrick, J.E., Peacock, G., Biggam, P. 2004. Sampling dynamic soil properties for soil surveys: lessons learned. In: Proceedings of the 2004 USDA-NRCS Western Region Cooperative Soil Survey Conference, June 13-18, 2004, Jackson, Wyoming. 2004 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: Interpretive summary not required for proceedings.

Technical Abstract: Today's land managers and policy makers need information about how soils change to compare alternatives and make decisions for economically and environmentally sound resource management. Soil-change information can be used to answer questions about current soil condition and make predictions of future conditions. However, soil surveys do not provide information about historical or expected dynamics of soil properties that change in response to management and disturbances. Data collection procedures tested for the Soil Survey of Big Bend National Park, TX, included: bulk density, salinity, pH, soil surface stability, infiltration, impact penetrometer, modified singleton-blade, organic and inorganic carbon, canopy cover and canopy gap. Soil surface stability, bulk density soil organic and inorganic carbon and electrical conductivity differed significantly among ecological states. However, differences for some properties were probably not functionally significant. State-and-transition models for ecological sites were used to select sampling sites and illustrate relationships among data. The experiences gained will be used to improve methods, sampling design, and field efficiency. Research needs were identified. State-dependent, dynamic soil property values will add value to soil surveys, enhance information on soil-vegetation dynamics within ecological site descriptions, and increase our knowledge of soil change.