Surveys > SO

Sampling and Analysis of Soil

Survey code: SO

Monitoring System: Level II

Survey frequency: Every 10 years

Forms

  • PLS: Plot file

  • PRF: Soil profile description

  • PFH: Soil profile horizons

  • SOM: Soil analysis

  • LQA: Laboratory QA/QC information

Special Notes

The information on the soil classification, humus type and water availability name is not longer part of the PLS file, but has been transferred to the PRF file.

The same files can be used on Level I and Level II.

PRF

Following attributes are MANDATORY:

  • X and Y coordinates of the profile pit
  • Date of the profile description
  • Code of the WRB Reference Soil Group
  • Version of WRB soil classification key
  • Code of the parent material
  • Effective soil depth (in cm from the top of the mineral soil)

PFH

Following attributes are MANDATORY IF they EXIST:

  • Horizon number
  • Date of the laboratory analyses
  • Horizon name consisting out of:
    • hor_discontinuity: Horizon discontinuity
    • hor_master: Horizon master
    • hor_subordinate: Horizon subordinate
    • hor_vertical: Horizon vertical
  • Upper limit of the horizon
  • Lower limit of the horizon
  • On the core Level II plots: abundance classes of very fine, fine, medium and coarse roots

On top following attributes are MANDATORY for MINERAL HORIZONS:

  • Code of soil structure
  • colour_moist: Moist colour of the soil matrix (Munsell soil colour charts)
  • colour_dry: Dry colour of the soil matrix (Munsell soil colour charts)
  • hor_texture_class: Horizon Textural class

SOM

The methods used for the laboratory analyses should be provided in the LQA file. The remaining methods and recomputations shall be described in detail in the Data Accompanying Report.

For a full and comprehensive overview on the mandatory and optional parameters, please consult Table 11 of the ICP Forests Manual Part X on Sampling and Analysis of Soil.