Duane Coleman, Mike Hill, Phil Ogden, Fred Ruskin, Dwayne Warrick, and Ken Williams
NotesY-l & Y-2 Soil pit located between Y-l and Y-2 on grazed area.
Surface Horizon, 0-14 inches. Considerable gravel and large rocks in this portion of
profile. Soil sample for texture, pH, CAC, and Organic Matter collected without large
rocks and gravel.
Second Horizon, 14-18 inches. Abundant large rocks with lime deposit on them are
embedded in a soil matŕx that appears to be high in lime. Soil matrix sampled without
rocks. Soil profile appeared to be wet to near field capacity to pit depth (18 inches) and
beyond.
2 bulk density samples and 2 root biomass samples also were collected at the soil pit.
One bulk density and one root biomass sample were centered on grass plants.
One bulk density and one root biomass sample were located in interspaces between
perennial plants.
Bulk density and root biomass samples were collected by working a coffee can (340 g
size) over a cylinder of soil. The can had both ends cut out and served as the cylinder
boundary as soil was carefully dug from around the can as it was pressed into the soil
to a 10 cm depth. The can diameter was 9.8 cm.
Volume = 3.14 X 4.9 cm X 4.9 cm X 10 cm = 754 cm3
Y-3, Y-4 and Y-5 Soil pit located between Y-4 and Y-5 on grazed area.
Surface Horizon, 0-14 inches. Very few rocks.
Second Horizon, 14-20 inches. No rocks. Soil profile appeared wet to field capacity
to below the pit depth of 20 inches.
Soil Samples taken the same as for the Y-l and Y-2 site.
Y-6 and Y-7 Soil pit located between Y-6 and Y-7 on grazed area.
Surface Horizon, 0-11 inches. No rocks.
Second Horizon, 1 1-20 + inches. Soil profile was much drier than other 2 sites. Apparently,
the purple mustard plants had already used up most of the soil moisture stored during
the winter.
Only 1 bulk density and 1 root biomass samples were collected under annual mustard plants, as there were few perennial grass plants large enough to warrant taking samples beneath grass clumps and there were only small interspaces between mustard plants.
Root Biomass SamplesThe 754 cm3 soil samples collected in the field were wrapped in a 2-ft X 2-ft piece of
fiberglass window screen mesh (about 50 mesh/cm2) and gently shaken to separate the
moist, fine particles from rocks, small clods, and roots. Roots were picked by hand using
tweezers from the material left on the screen. A small portion of the root biomass was
lost through the screen, as very tiny root fragments were not retrieved. The five soil
samples coilected in the field all were slightly moist and consisted mostly of fine soil
particles that passed through the screen very easily.
Root samples were placed in paper bags and air dried (80-90 degrees F) for 6 days prior
to weighing.
| Y-2, Interspace | 0.82 9/754 cm2 = .109 kg/O.l m3 |
| Y-2, Under grass | 7.04 g = .934 kg |
| Y-5, Interspace | 1.49 g = .198 kg |
| Y-5, Under grass | 3.76 g = .499 kg |
| Y-7, Under annuals | 0.70 g = .093 kg |
Values for the soil samples collected 4/24/97 are:
Calculation of Bulk Density for samples yielded the following results:
| Sample 1 (Y-2, 0-10 cm depth, interspace) | = 1.18 g/cubic cm |
| Sample 2 (Y-2, 0-10 cm depth, under grass) | = 1.13 g/cubic cm |
| Sample 3 (Y-5, 0-10 cm depth, interspace) | = 1.06 g/cubic cm |
| Sample 4 (Y-5, 0-10 cm depth, under grass) | = 1.24 g/cubic cm |
| Sample 5 (Y-7, 0-10 cm depth, ann. mustards) | - 1.25 g/cubic cm |
Calculation of Root Biomass for samples yielded the following results:
| Sample 1 (Y-2, 0-10 cm depth, interspace) | = .109 kg/sq m/O.lm |
| Sample 2 (Y-2, 0-10 cm depth, under grass) | = .934 kg/sq m/O.lm |
| Sample 3 IY-5, 0-10 cm depth, interspace) | = .198 kg/sq m/O.lm |
| Sample 4 (Y-5, 0-10 cm depth, under grass) | = .499 kg/sq m/O.lm |
| Sample 5 (Y-7, 0-10 cm depth, ann. mustards) | = .093 kg/sq m/O.lm |