Moscow FSL - Microbial Processes - LTSP Tour: Pre-Harvest Measurements

	USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station Forestry Sciences Laboratory - Moscow, Idaho
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Long-Term Soil Productivity Study:

LTSP Home

Objectives of this Study

Tour a Study Site

Site Selection
Treatments
Plot Set-up
Measurements
- Pre-Harvest
- Harvested Stand
- Post-Harvest
- Climate

Study Details

Results to Date

Forest Locations

Cooperating Investigators

LTSP Related Publications

Microbial Processes Project Leader:
Debbie Page-Dumroese

Last Revised:

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			Microbial Processes > Long-Term Soil Productivity (LTSP) Study > Tour: 4 - Pre-Harvest Measurements Pre-Harvested Stand Measurements Soil profile measurements (10 samples collected) Bulk density taken at 3 depths Soil strength Soil nutrients (N, P, Ca, Mg, K and possibly others) pH Organic matter Vegetation samples (10 samples randomly collected per plot) Diameters of all conifers Three sample trees selected per plot (selection based on diameter averages of all trees; tree height measured, sample discs taken at 2 m intervals, branch and needle samples taken from the crown) Forest Service crew training at an LTSP site. [view medium photo - 64K] [view large photo - 92K] Forest Service crew at an LTSP site. T-shirt reads, "Don't treat our soil like dirt". [view medium photo - 84K] [view large photo - 132K] Soil is intensively sampled in each LTSP treatment. In this picture, soil cores (30 cm deep) are being collected for chemical analysis, texture, fine root biomass, and organic matter content (Council Ranger District LTSP site). [view medium photo - 68K] [view large photo - 116K] Soil core taken at an LTSP site. [view medium photo - 40K] [view large photo - 68K] Thumper being extracted [view medium photo - 64K] [view large photo - 112K] Collecting forest floor samples on an unharvested (control) plot (LTSP site in Switzerland) [view medium photo - 64K] [view large photo - 124K] Collecting mineral soil samples on an unharvested (control) plot (LTSP site in Switzerland) [view medium photo - 52K] [view large photo - 68K] Taking soil strength measurements - At each site, soil strength and bulk density are measured before and after harvesting to ensure treatments are within specifications for compaction (Council Ranger District LTSP site). [view medium photo - 68K] [view large photo - 100K] Measuring soil CO₂ levels. [view medium photo - 128K] [view large photo - 236K] Before harvesting, several trees in each plot are sampled for total biomass. In addition we collect bole, bark, branch, and needle samples for chemical analyses in the laboratory. This photo shows the use of a crane scale (hung from a tripod) to weigh tree branches (Council Ranger District LTSP site). [view medium photo - 72K] [view large photo - 112K] Next Page - Harvested Stand Measurements >