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Exercise procedures

A. Surface sampling

Equipment:  compass, corer/auger, flags, magnifying lens, measuring tapes (0-50/100m and 0-150cm), Munsell Color chart (if available), shovel, soil reaction kit, trowel, waterproof markers, ziploc bas (greater or equal to 1L or 1 quart)

1. Using a measuring tape and compass, measure off the area to be sampled.
2. Describe the site by entering information on the data sheet provided.  
3. Decide whether the plot is sufficiently homogeneous to warrant random sampling or visibly well-differentiated to warrant stratified or stratified random sampling.  If a composite sample is to be extracted, use either random or systematic sampling, depending on landscape features present (e.g. if samples are taken at systematic intervals that coincide with a single plant type over a heterogeneous vegetation, then the sampling will be biased).

B.  Soil profile analysis and depth sampling

1. Locate an appropriate site for a representative soil profile, using land use histories, vegetation type, geomorphological characteristics, etc. as a guide.
2. Describe the site to be excavated by entering information on the data sheets provided.
3. Excavate a pit 1m wide and 1.5-2m deep, starting the digging by demarcating 4m² and narrowing the hole with depth so as to provide sufficient leverage throughout the excavation.
4. Draw a soil profile to scale.  Sketch burrows, roots, leaf litter, and clasts larger than cobbles (>7.6cm or equal to) appearing in the profile.
5. Use the parameters given in the handout to describe soil profile features and demarcate horizons by using the Munsell color chart to detect color change, texturing using the descriptions of each texture class, testing for downward soil pH changes with the soil reaction kit.
6. Once there is enough evidence to support the horizon demarcations, mark the upper and lower boundaries of the horizons.
7. Designate a stratum letter and possible a subordinate lower-case letter for each horizon, (e.g. Bt for a clay-rich B horizon)
8. Explain, in two-three paragraphs, how various soil forming factors may account for the horizon sequence demarcated and for the differences among the sites analyzed.  In addition, identify additional data that would be required to classify more adequately the soils analyzed in the field.

	The Lawrenceville School Preserve Field Fallow Scenery	Soil Profile From The Lawrenceville School Preserve Fallow Field

References: Salvatore Engel Di-Mauro, July 2001, Selected laboratory procedures for investigating general soil characteristics and acidification processes, Manuscript