Annual/Termination Reports:

[08/16/2008]

Report Information

Participants

O'Geen, Anthony, atogeen@ucdavis.edu - University of California, Davis; McDaniel, Paul, pmcdaniel@uidaho.edu - University of Idaho; Graham, Robert, robert.graham@ucr.edu - University of California, Riverside; Norton, Jay, jnorton4@uwyo.edu - University of Wyoming; Noller, Jay, jay.noller@oregonstate.edu - Oregon State University; Frazier, Bruce, bfrazier@wsu.edu - Washington State University; Brown, David, david_brown@wsu.edu - Washington State University; Monger, Curtis, cmonger@nmsu.edu - New Mexico State University; West, Larry, Larry.West@lin.usda.gov - USDA-NRCS National Soil Survey Center; Levin, Maxine, Maxine.Levin@wdc.usda.gov - USDA-NRCS; Tugel, Arlene, atugel@nmsu.edu - USDA-NRCS

Brief Summary of Minutes

The meeting began with a summary of the project design by Anthony O'Geen. We discussed the details of site selection, experimental design, lab analysis and data management. Each participant outlined the sites they selected for the study, which encompass a wide range of temperature and precipitation. We then discussed how to implement four main objectives: soil characterization, soil moisture and temperature monitoring, litter bag decomposition studies, and the mineral weathering lysimeters.


It was agreed to commence soil characterization at the sites in summer and fall of 2008. We verified that the National Soil Survey Laboratory (NSSL) will perform laboratory characterization for all soils sampled in this study. This was verified by Larry West the National Leader - Soil Survey Investigations USDA-NRCS National Soil Survey Center. Each participant was instructed to request soil analysis through their State Soil Scientist.


The types of sensors and approach for soil moisture and temperature monitoring was discussed. We chose a conservative monitoring approach based on the limited (in some instances absence) of funds available to participants. Each participant will measure temperature and moisture content at a minimum of three soil profiles. Temperature will be measured at 10 and 50 cm depths. Soil moisture will be measured at 10, 30 and 50 cm depths. A standard type of sensor and datalogger was agreed upon.


A litter bag decomposition study will commence in fall of 2008 and will continue for a total of 3 years. UC Davis designed 300 litter bags that will contain about 15 g of ponderosa pine litter collected in CA. UC Davis will send each participant a total of 36 bags with litter. Each year (in September) a participant will collect three replicate litter bags from their three sites. Oven dry (60 C) weight of litter will be determined and samples will be mailed to NSSL for measurement of total C and N and organic matter content.


The mineral weathering lysimeter study will be postponed for one year. Over 300 lbs of lithium feldspar was ordered by UC Davis, but only recently arrived due to shipping and border control issues. A prototype of the lysimeter has been built. UC Davis is in the process of testing the lysimeters to obtain the right mixture of powdered feldspar and cation and anion exchange resins to ensure reliability of the experiment. A total of 60 lysimeters have been built at UC Davis so far. Each participant will receive 8 lysimeters once completed, six containing lithium feldspar and two containing quartz sand to serve as a control. Participants will place three lysimeters and one control at two different sites. Resin beads will be harvested each year in September, and replaced with fresh beads. The beads will be sent to NSSL for extraction and analysis.

Accomplishments

There have been no short-term outcomes from this project at this time. There are no outputs at this time because this project has just started and requires a great deal of coordination of efforts across multiple states. Multiple activities have commenced as described in the summary of meeting minutes, but all have focused in implementing the project. No milestones were achieved.

Publications

Impact Statements

1. This committee meeting was held at the Western Regional National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference. It was agreed upon by USDA-NRCS that this regional research project would be highlighted at the National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference that will be hosted in New Mexico in the Spring of 2009. The project has had no additional direct impacts at this stage because it is just beginning.

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