Soil parameters and carbon content across soil horizons in acidic and non-acidic tundra, Toolik, Alaska (2022-2023)

The goal of this study was to measure the moisture content, carbon and nitrogen content, and soil pH (potential of hydrogen) through the soil profile and across differing soil moisture conditions. Soils were collected over the summer of 2022 and 2023 along two tundra hillslopes (one acidic and one non-acidic) near Toolik Lake. Each study hillslope had three sites with soil moisture conditions delineated as Dry, Mesic, and Wet, with three replicate 5 by 5 meter (m) plots at each site. Soil samples were collected from each replicate plot of the non-acidic tundra in the summer of 2022 and of the acidic tundra in the summer of 2023. Soils were extracted using a 2-inch stainless steel corer and were frozen upon return from the field. The sampled soils were separated by horizon and then were subsampled for organic matter content, carbon-nitrogen (CN) ratios, and soil pH.