MOSSO_SoilPhysics&Chemistry_AllSites

Abstract

The dataset provides information about the soil physical and chemical properties at eight permanent LTER sites (named site 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, according to the LTER site numerations), located between 2686 (site 10) and 2854 m a.s.l. (site 6). Details: Site 1 (coordinates: 45°52'22.43"N, 7°52'25.84"E; elevation: 2840 m a.s.l.), Site 2 (coordinates: 45°52'22.17"N, 7°52'38.07"E; elevation: 2800 m a.s.l.), Site 3 (coordinates: 45°52'13.52"N, 7°52'35.01"E; elevation: 2770 m a.s.l.), Site 6 (coordinates: 45°52'32.21"N, 7°52'31.87"E; elevation: 2854 m a.s.l.), Site 7 (coordinates: 45°52'29.13"N, 7°52'44.71"E; elevation: 2813 m a.s.l.), Site 8 (coordinates: 45°52'27.74"N, 7°52'56.86"E; elevation: 2749 m a.s.l.), Site 9 (coordinates: 45°52'23.80"N, 7°53'3.96"E; elevation: 2720 m a.s.l.), and Site 10 (coordinates: 45°52'21.76"N, 7°53'9.32"E; elevation: 2686 m a.s.l.). The bedrock is primarily micaschists, with some inclusions of amphibolites and calcschists. The vegetation of the sites is included in the ‘Siliceous alpine and boreal grasslands’ (habitat 6150, according to the EU Habitat Directive). Each study site consists of paired plots for soil and vegetation survey. Soils belongs mainly to Regosol (sites 1 and 8), Leptosol (site 2), Cambisol (sites 6 and 7), and Umbrisol (sites 3, 9, and 10) great groups (IUSS Working Group WRB, 2015, E-ISBN 978-92-5- 108370-3.). On soil samples the following analyses are performed: pH, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (Olsen P), and particle-size.

Method Description

The field description of the soil profile is done according to FAO (2006, ISBN 92-5-105521-1) while soil classification is done according to WRB classification system IUSS Working Group WRB, (2015 E-ISBN 978-92-5- 108370-3.). Soil material is collected from every horizon in the soil pit. The soil samples are air-dried, sieved to 2 mm, and analysed following the standard methods reported by Van Reeuwijk (2002, ISBN: 90-6672-044-1.). pH is measured in water (soil:water=1:2.5). Particle-size analysis is performed by the pipette method after organic matter destruction with H2O2 followed by dispersion with Na-hexametaphosphate. CEC is determined in a BaCl2 solution buffered at pH 8.1. TOC and TN are analysed by dry combustion with a CN elemental analyzer (CE Instruments NA2100, Rodano, Italy). Available P (Olsen P) is extracted with NaHCO3 and determined colorimetrically by the ascorbic acid molybdate blue method (Murphy and Riley 1962, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2670(00)88444-5).

Instrumentation

WTW-InoLab 7110 pH-meter equipped with Hamilton GelGlass electrode (pH)

CN elemental analyzer CE Instruments NA2100, Rodano, Italy (TOC and TN)

Spectrophotometer U-2000, Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan (Olsen P)