Soil and Plant Analysis for Forest Ecosystem Characterization / / Daniel John Vogt, Joel P. Tilley, Robert L. Edmonds.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter DG Plus DeG Package 2015 Part 1
• VerfasserIn: Vogt, Daniel John,; Edmonds, Robert L.,; Tilley, Joel P.,
• MitwirkendeR: Higher Education Press,
• Place / Publishing House: Berlin ;, Boston : : De Gruyter, , [2015]; ©2015
• Year of Publication: 2015
• Language: English
• Series: Ecosystem Science and Applications ,
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (221 p.)

This handbook provides an overview of physical, chemical and biological methods used to analyze soils and plant tissue using an ecosystem perspective. The current emphasis on climate change has recognized the importance of including soil carbon as part of our carbon budgets. Methods to assess soils must be ecosystem based if they are to have utility for policy makers and managers wanting to change soil carbon and nutrient pools. Most of the texts on soil analyis treat agriculture and not forest soils and these methods do not transfer readily to forests because of their different chemistry and physical properties. This manual presents methods for soil and plant analysis with the ecosystem level approach that will reduce the risk that poor management decisions will be made in forests. This manual was intended for the instructors that teach students soil and plant analyses; however it can also be used by the research laboratories and by environmental scientists. The laboratory procedures in this manual are outlined in easy-to-follow steps and frequently accompanied with examples of calculations, questions to answer, and also a blank data sheet to use. These methods used in this manual can be used on soil and plant tissues found in agricultural, horticulture, forestry, urban, and natural lands.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Acknowledgments -- Acronyms -- Contents -- List of Tables -- List of Figures -- List of Equations -- Part I. Context of Soil and Plant Analysis -- Chapter 1. Overview of Soil and Plant Analysis for Forest Ecosystems -- Part II. Introductory Methods in Soil and Plant Analyses -- Chapter 2. Field Characterization of Soils to Establish Sampling Protocols -- Chapter 3. Plant Tissue Characterization -- Chapter 4. Introduction: Laboratory Practices -- Part III. Soil Physical, Chemical and Biological Analyses -- Chapter 5. Methods for Analyzing Soil Physical Characteristics -- Chapter 6. Soil Chemical Characterization -- Chapter 7. Total Plant and Soil Nutrient Analysis (Digestion) -- Chapter 8. Soil Biology Characterization -- Appendices -- References -- Subject Index