Spatial Variation of Soil Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) (LEF_SOIL_CNP)

Hongqing Wang, a Ph.D graduate student of SUNY-ESF, with the help of many others, took soil samples in 119 locations over the entire Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) during the summer of 1998 and 1999. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and acid-extractable phosphorus were measured in the laboratory of SUNY-ESF; soil moisture and bulk density were measured at the laboratory of the El Verde Station of UPR. The geodetic coordinates (Lat., Lon.) and elevation of each sampling location were determined using a Global Positioning System (GPS Pathfinder Basic Receivers, Trimble Navigation Ltd.) in the field. Meanwhile, slope angle, aspect and topographic features (Ridge, slope I (<35 deg.), slope II (>=35 deg.), valleys) were also measured and observed in the field. Support for this work was provided by grants BSR-8811902, DEB-9411973, DEB-9705814 , DEB-0080538, DEB-0218039 , DEB-0620910 , DEB-1239764, DEB-1546686, and DEB-1831952 from the National Science Foundation to the University of Puerto Rico as part of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Additional support provided by the University of Puerto Rico and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest Service.