WES01 Woody encroachment impacts on the subsurface at Konza Prairie

Soil sampling pits across three hillslope positions - toeslope, backslope, and summit - were dug in 2020 in watershed N4D (burned every 4 years) and N1D (burned annually) to characterize the impacts of woody encroachment on subsurface soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Pits were hand-dug to 120 cm in the toeslope position and to 60 cm deep at the backslope and summit positions. Soil pits in N4D were dug directly under dogwood shrubs (Cornus drumondii) while pits in N1B were dug under grasses and forbs. Soil pit faces were photographed to determine root fractions with depth,  soil monoliths were take to charaterize soil macroporosity with depth while soil cores were taken in each horizon for water retention analysis.  Soil sensors were also installed at four soil depths at the toeslope position and 3 soil depths at the backslope and summit positions to record half hourly soil moisture, soil temperature, soil water potential, soil electrical conductivity, and soil carbon dioxide, and soil oxygen. In addition, geophysical measurements were taken in N4D using time-lapse electrical resistivity.