Source: CLEMSON UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
ASSESSING CHANGES IN SOILS, FOREST TREE SITE INDEX, AND SOIL CARBON IN DYNAMIC LANDSCAPES OF THE SOUTHEASTERN US
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0231636
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 20, 2012
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2016
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
CLEMSON,SC 29634
Performing Department
Forestry & Environmental Conservation
Non Technical Summary
Assessing potential site productivity is important for forest planning and to predict forest growth and yield in a changing climate. It will also benefit the on-going research on understanding the conversion of carbon, either CO2 or organic carbon into a form having a long residence within the soil will greatly benefit agriculture, industry, and society on a global scale. This research will develop methodologies for updating site indices for different soils, and evaluating soil carbon stocks, which could impact the carbon accounting in the soils worldwide as it relates to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is an amendment to the international treaty on climate change, assigning mandatory targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to signatory nations.
Animal Health Component
50%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1010110206150%
1230611209050%
Knowledge Area
101 - Appraisal of Soil Resources; 123 - Management and Sustainability of Forest Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
0110 - Soil; 0611 - Conifer forests of the South;

Field Of Science
2090 - Statistics, econometrics, and biometrics; 2061 - Pedology;
Goals / Objectives
GOALS: In recent years there has been an increased interest in examining changes in forest systems in South Carolina in response to drought, flooding, hurricanes and climate change (Conner et al., 2011). The question, then, is how do these combined changes affect forest productivity and site index in the Southeastern U.S. Site index (SI) is "the total height to which dominant trees of a given species will grow on a given site at some index age, usually 50 years in the Southeast (Hamilton, 2007)." Site index is commonly used to evaluate site productivity and is provided through the Web Soil Survey (USDA/NRCS). The site index can be determined by two methods: 1) from the site index curves using accurate age and height measurements; 2) from the tables in the soil survey (Baker and Langdon, 2012). Site index does not provide the measure of uncertainty due to soil, site, and climate variability. In addition to site index work, continuing research on the urban-rural interface soils is proposed. South Carolina is experiencing a rapid land use change and the conversion of forest areas to agriculture and urban/suburban sprawl (Conner and Sheffield, 2000). For example, coastal South Carolina, landuse change occurs more quickly than even population growth: for every 1% increase in population, a 4-6% increase in urban and suburban land use occurred (Allen and Lu, 2003). The current economic crisis has left numerous residential developments in the Southeastern United States in various stages of construction (Werts et al., 2012). Many of them are currently graded and essentially abandoned, creating a major source of sediment runoff to waterways. Abandoned and unfinished developments in upstate South Carolina may represent a major source of sediment pollution to streams and it is important to revisit previously identified abandoned developments to determine the level of continued impact to the upstate of South Carolina. OBJECTIVES: a) Conduct soil and forest inventory of the southern part of the Clemson Experimental Forest; b) Compare site indices from Web Soil Survey to the most recent forest inventory data obtained via standard forest field mensuration techniques; c) Compare site indices to LiDAR derived canopy heights; d)Conduct statistical analysis for any trends and to determine the uncertainty in the site indices; e) Monitor the continued impact of abandoned developments on the environment. OUTPUTS: For LiDAR and site index analysis a comparison of SSURGO based site indices with remote-sensing and field-measured values will be produced. For the abandoned development project, the previously identified abandoned developments will be revisited to determine the status of environmental impact. Outcomes or Projected Impacts: The ability to accurately predict tree growth using the site index has a potential impact on above ground carbon estimates. The challenge, then, is determining how to optimize those management practices to enhance C sequestration in the U.S. and elsewhere without significantly diminishing, and perhaps even increasing, forest and crop yield and other desirable ecosystem goods and services.
Project Methods
FOREST SITE INDEX: The location for this study will be the Clemson University Experimental Forest in Clemson, SC. Current and historical soil inventory will be conducted using Web Soil Survey, STATSGO, and SSURGO databases. Current and historical forest inventory will be obtained from Clemson Experimental Forest archives. Site index is traditionally estimated by using costly and laborious field assessments of tree height and age obtained via standard forest field mensuration techniques (Gatziolis, 2007). Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), sometimes referred as airborne laser scanning (ALS), can be an inexpensive, less laborious, and rapid alternative for describing the vertical structure of forests. Newly flown, multi-return LiDAR is available for Pickens (5/2012), Anderson (8/2012), and Oconee counties (8/2012). Anderson County LiDAR data from 2008 is already available. The resolution of the available LiDAR data includes a horizontal spacing of approximately 1m and a vertical accuracy of approximately 20cm. Current statistical methods, which include predictive modeling will be used (Nothdurft et al., 2012). ABANDONED DEVELOPMENTS: Monitor the continued impact of abandoned developments on the environment. Identified abandoned developments will be monitored for change using 30m resolution Landsat 5 TM satellite images from the upstate of South Carolina. Atmospheric and radiometric corrections will be performed in ERDAS Imagine 9.3 (ERDAS 2008) using the Chavez cost model (Chavez 1996). A supervised classification will be performed in Imagine to determine locations of bare site areas (ERDAS 2010). Training sites will be selected in Microsoft Bing Maps (http://maps.bing.com) by drawing polygons around sites using tools provided by the interface. High resolution oblique Pictometry images included in Bing Maps will allow for quick and accurate selection of training sites (opposed to selection from low resolution Landsat image and/or field verification) and sites were exported in Keyhole Markup Language (KML) format for import into Imagine and overlay onto the Landsat image. Two bare soil classes which visually represented bare developments (cleared site, exposed soil) will be used in the classification. Initial sites will be selected from those classes where pixel groups were greater than 2 acres in area. Selected pixel groups were converted to vector polygons in ESRI ArcGIS 9.3 (ESRI 2009) to represent initial bare soil areas. Polygons will be overlaid on recent high resolution county aerial photos and systematically used to visually verify the current state of the previously identified barren residential sites. Sites are typically easy to identify based on the characteristic red hue of the clays prevalent in the region, indicating that sufficient erosion has occurred resulting in exposed subsoil with clay textures and red hues, and cul-de-sacs surrounded by bare soil. Polygons created at the coarse 30m resolution will be manually edited in ArcGIS to better fit the sites visible in the high resolution aerial images during the verification process.

Progress 07/20/12 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Individuals (homeowners and private landowners), groups (small and large area land managers), market segments (forest industry, both private and industrial), and the larger scientific community. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training impacts by this project included graduate training (research projects integrated a number of graduate students to support professional student development) as well as training of both undergraduate and graduate students by sharing research and project results with multiple courses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project results have been disseminated through talks at local, national and international professional meetings, invited speaking events and through peer-reviewed research publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Climate and land use changes are the most pervasive issues facing the Southeastern United States. These dynamic landscapes are facing a range of environmental problems such as: urbanization, invasive species, climate change, water quality and quantity. Insights from aLiDAR study (Solomons et al., 2015) provide a spatial temporal methodology for predicting high flow accumulation channels. A cloud-based spatial-temporal inventory for sustainable urban soil management (Green et al., 2016) provides a cloud platform to store, share and map urban tree and soil data over time using internet connected computers, tablets or mobile devices. Geospatial soil and plant tissue analysis of Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) invasion around Lake Issaqueena, SC (Mikhailova et al., 2016) shows the following pattern: Pacolet and Madison soil map units on average slopes of 17.5%, common along roads and trails with a preferred mean canopy cover of <50%. Evaluation of an inexpensive sensor to measure soil color (Stiglitz et al., 2016a) demonstrated that the Nix Pro Color Sensor can be a successful tool to measure soil color in the standard Munsell color codes. A soil color sensor was tested with undergraduate students during an introductory soil science laboratory (Stiglitz et al., 2016b). Multitemporal phenological floristic analysis of the shores of Lake Issaqueena, SC (Pamplin et al., 2015) shows the extension of blooming period from 11 months in 2011-2012 compared to 8 months in 1970- 1971. A majority of plants were blooming earlier and longer in 2011-2012 than in 1970-1971. Comparison of soil carbon estimates in glaciated soils at a farm scale using geospatial analysis of field and SSURGO data (Mikhailova et al., 2016) for a 147-hectare field site in upstate New York resulted in maps of SOC, SIC, and TC contents based on the interpolated core samples that were different from maps created by applying averaged core results or SSURGO values across the SMUs. The results of these projects have been disseminated through a range of outlets from peer-reviewed publications to poster presentations at the national Soil Science Society of America meetings. The overall goal of this project is to assess changes in soils, soil carbon, and invasive species in dynamic landscapes of the Southeastern U.S. Impacts of invasive plant species and land use issues are also examined. To accomplish these goals, 6 projects were completed: (1) LiDAR-based predictions of flow channels through riparian buffer zones (Solomons et al., 2015). High flow accumulation channels can be accurately predicted by LiDAR data, but lower flow channels were less accurately estimated. (2) A cloud-based spatial-temporal inventory for sustainable urban soil management (Green et al., 2016). Low-cost and widely-available technology, such as global positioning system (GPS)-enabled cameras to photo-document sites and cloud-based products and services (Google Picasa and Fusion Tables), aid in developing sustainable street tree management programs. Google Fusion Tables provide a cloud platform to store, share and map urban tree and soil data over time using internet connected computers, tablets or mobile devices. (3) Geospatial soil and plant tissue analysis of Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) invasion around Lake Issaqueena, SC (Mikhailova et al., 2016). Sericea lespedeza was distributed on both sides of the lake in Pacolet and Madison soil map units on average slopes of 17.5%. It was common along roads and trails with a preferred mean canopy cover of <50%. (4) Evaluation of an inexpensive sensor to measure soil color (Stiglitz et al., 2016a). Nix Pro Color Sensor was precise in soil color determination and it was more accurate than the Munsell Color Chart and comparable to the Konica Minolta CR-400 for both dry and moist soil. The Nix Pro Color Sensor can be a successful tool to measure soil color in the standard Munsell color codes. Soil color sensor was tested with undergraduate students during an introductory soil science laboratory (Stiglitz et al., 2016b). (5) Multitemporal phenological floristic analysis of the shores of Lake Issaqueena, South Carolina (Pamplin et al., 2015). Comparison of phenologies indicated 269 plant species blooming in 1970-1971 compared to 203 plants blooming in 2011-2012, and 149 common plant species blooming in both study periods. The blooming period was 11 months in 2011-2012 compared to 8 months in 1970- 1971. A majority of plants were blooming earlier and longer in 2011-2012 than in 1970-1971. (6) Comparing soil carbon estimates in glaciated soils at a farm scale using geospatial analysis of field and SSURGO data (Mikhailova et al., 2016). The objectives of this study were to quantify and compare levels of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil inorganic carbon (SIC), and total soil carbon (TC) for a 147-hectare field site in upstate New York based on three alternative analysis procedures: a) using carbon concentrations reported by the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) spatial databases for each soil map unit (SMU) present at the field site and applying that value across each SMU; b) averaging the carbon contents of soil cores collected within a specific SMU boundary and applying the averaged value across each SMU; and c) interpolating carbon contents across the field site based on the individual soil cores. Maps of SOC, SIC, and TC contents based on the interpolated core samples were different from maps created by applying averaged core results or SSURGO values across the SMUs.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mikhailova, E.A., Altememe, A.H., Bawazir, A.A., Chandler, R.D., Cope, M.P., Post, C.J., Stiglitz, R.Y., Zurqani, H.A., and M.A. Schlautman. 2016. Comparing soil carbon estimates in glaciated soils at a farm scale using geospatial analysis of field and SSURGO data. Technical Contribution No. 6387 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Geoderma 281:119-126.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Stiglitz, R., Mikhailova, E., Post, C., Schlautman, M., and J.L. Sharp. 2016a. Evaluation of an inexpensive sensor to measure soil color. Technical Contribution No. 6304 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Comput. Electron. Agr. 121:141-148.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Stiglitz, R.Y., Mikhailova, E.A., Post, C.J., Schlautman, M.A., and J.L. Sharp. 2016b. Teaching soil color determination using an inexpensive color sensor. Technical Contribution No. 6415 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Nat. Sci. Educ. 45(1):1-7.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Pamplin, R.W., Mikhailova, E.A., Post, C.J., McMillan, P.D., Sharp, J.L., and S.K. Cox. 2016. Multitemporal phenological floristic analysis of the shores of Lake Issaqueena, South Carolina. Technical Contribution No. 6018 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Bartonia 68:60-85.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mikhailova, E., Hagan, D., Sharp, J., Allerton, T., Burdette, K., Mealing, V., Ritter, B., Solomons, A., and R. Stiglitz. 2016. Geospatial soil and plant tissue analysis of Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) invasion around Lake Issaqueena, SC. Technical Contribution No. 6303 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 47(5):630-638.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Green, L.Y., Mikhailova, E.A., Post, C.J., Darnault, C.J.G., Bridges, W.C., and M.A. Schlautman. 2016. A cloud-based spatial-temporal inventory for sustainable urban soil management. Technical Contribution No. 6240 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Urban Ecosyst. 19(2):811-822.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Solomons, A.G., Mikhailova, E.A., Post, C.J., and J.L. Sharp. 2015. LiDAR-based predictions of flow channels through riparian buffer zones. Technical Contribution No. 6332 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Water Sci. J. 29:123-133.


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Individuals (homeowners and private landowners), groups (small and large area land managers), market segments (forest industry, both private and industrial), or communities (local interest groups; for example invasive species control groups). Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During this period, three MS students have completed their theses and submitted several articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented posters at the local, regional, state and national levels. Several undergraduate students were involved in field and laboratory work supported by the Creative Inquiry program at Clemson University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Several articles in peer-reviewed journals and posters at the local, regional, state and national levels. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The overall goal of this project is to assess changes in soils, soil carbon, and invasive species in dynamic landscapes of the Southeastern U.S. Impacts of invasive plant species (Chinese privet) and land use issues are also examined. To accomplish these goals, four projects were completed: (1) Analysis of factors contributing to abandoned residential developments using remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) (Post et al., 2015). New residential developments in the Southeastern United States peaked in early 2006, but since then declined leaving numerous residential developments stalled in various stages of construction. The status of 119 previously identified (2009) abandoned residential housing developments was reinvestigated in 2013 using the most current available high-resolution aerial photography with a randomly selected number of sites (40) in Greenville, Pickens and Spartanburg Counties in South Carolina. This study suggests that proximity to schools may be a driving factor in restarting previously abandoned developments. (2) Spatial and temporal analysis of lake sedimentation under reforestation (Pilgrim et al., 2015). Spatial and temporal land cover changes can reduce or accelerate lake sedimentation. This study was conducted to examine morphometry and bathymetry, and the long-term changes (over 75 years) in sedimentation in the Lake Issaqueena reservoir, South Carolina. The watershed and catchment areas were delineated using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) based data. Lake surface area decreased in years corresponding to equal coverage or largely unvegetated riparian buffers. Shift from agricultural land to forestland in this watershed resulted in a decrease in sedimentation rates by 88.28%. (3) Effects of compost on the chemistry of an urban Upper Piedmont South Carolina soil (Mikhailova et al., 2015). Composting is an effective method to improve the fertility of degraded soils. However, the potential beneficial effects of composting on the fertility of urban soils have not been reported. This study compared nutrients measured in compost and soil samples collected from a residential urban plot in Clemson, SC. Tissues of leaf detritus were also analyzed to establish the nutrient contribution from leaves to soil. Our results show that composting can be a significant source for major soil nutrients and minerals in urban soils. Therefore, utilization of compost and leaf detritus should be beneficial for improving degraded soil in urban environments. (4) Creative Inquiry in Soil Science: Soil inventory of private lands (Mikhailova et al., 2015). Creative Inquiry (CI) projects provide unique learning opportunities in soil science education. Clemson University's CI program combines engaged learning and undergraduate research. We have developed a highly effective hands-on CI project involving soil inventory of private lands using the Web Soil Survey to identify soil map units, collected soil samples in the field, analyzed them in the Clemson University Agricultural Service Laboratory, and interpreted the soil testing results for management recommendations. Overall, student responses to the questionnaire about their CI project experience were positive, indicating that incorporating project-based learning can enhance soil science education.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Post, C., Ritter, B., Akturk, E., Breedlove, A., Buchanan, R., Che, C., Fravel, J., Hammett, L., Kirby, T., Mikhailova, E., Qiao, X., Short, J., and M. Stella. 2015. Analysis of factors contributing to abandoned residential developments using remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Technical Contribution No. 6144 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Urban Ecosyst. 18(3):701-713.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Pilgrim, C.M., Mikhailova, E.A., Post, C.J., Hains, J.J., and S.K. Cox. 2015. Spatial and temporal analysis of lake sedimentation under reforestation. Technical Contribution No. 6270 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Water Sci. J. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wsj.2015.05.001
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Mikhailova, E.A., Schlautman, M.A., Darnault, C.J.G., Sharp, J.L., Post, C.J., Hall, K.C., Outz, E.V., and M.A. Barfield. 2015. Effects of compost on the chemistry of an urban Upper Piedmont South Carolina soil. Technical Contribution No. 6066 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 22:2787-2797.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Mikhailova, E.A., Post, C.J., Sharp, J.L., and B.J. Speziale. 2015. Creative Inquiry in Soil Science: Soil inventory of private lands. Technical Contribution No. 6357 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Nat. Sci. Educ. 44(1):1-8.


Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Individuals (homeowners and private landowners), groups (small and large area land managers), market segments (forest industry, both private and industrial), or communities (local interest groups; for example invasive species control groups) Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? One MS student has completed their thesis and submitted several articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented posters at the local, regional, state and national levels. Several undergraduate students were involved in field and laboratory work supported by the Creative Inquiry program at Clemson University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Climate and land use changes are the most pervasive issues facing the Southeastern United States. These dynamic landscapes are facing a range of environmental problems such as: urbanization, invasive species, climate change, water quality and quantity. Research on Chinese Privet (CHP) is one of the first attempts to document the relationship between soil and landscape factors with CHP and develop a model to predict the susceptibility of forest stands to CHP invasion. Overall, the results of the study suggest that sites with low basal areas and flatter slopes are susceptible to invasion by CHP. Conversely, steep slopes and high overstory basal areas appear to constitute a substantial recruitment limitation. Therefore, land managers may be able to prevent the spread of CHP more efficiently by focusing their early detection and monitoring efforts on these most susceptible areas. Although some unique soil characteristics were associated with invaded sites, specifically pH and litter depth, it was not sufficient to conclude that this was a result or a cause of invasion. In another study, Lake Issaqueena watershed experienced a shift from agriculture to forestland. This land cover change was brought about by shifts in the local economy. Land within the northern part of CEF remains largely forested and is the result of implementation of best management practices. The water quality data suggests that large inputs of inorganic nitrogen are still occurring during months prior to the growing season. Conservation tillage and reduced fertilizer application could help correct this problem. Management of land cover within the watershed is of great importance due to the possibility of impairing water quality, changing the local climate, and hydrology. Long-term high-resolution remote sensing and water quality datasets for man-made lakes are scarce worldwide. Utilization of high-resolution aerial photos allows for a longer-term view of how land cover has changed over time. There are few studies that show the reverse effects of going from more intensive to less intensive land use. In many ways, degraded lands around the world would benefit by this type of conversion, and data is needed to document the environmental benefits of these types of strategies. The results of these projects have been disseminated through a range of outlets from peer-reviewed publications to poster presentations at the national Soil Science Society of America meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Research will continue ona range of projects and dissemination of results will continue through peer-reviewed publications. Student training will be provided..

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The overall goal of this project is to assess changes in soils, soil carbon, and invasive species in dynamic landscapes of the Southeastern U.S. Impacts of invasive plant species (Chinese privet) and land use issues are also examined. To accomplish these goals, two projects were completed: (1) The role of soil and landscape factors in Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) invasion in the Appalachian Piedmont. There is a limited understanding about the ecological mechanisms that enable certain plant species to become successful invaders of natural areas. This study was conducted to determine the soil and landscape characteristics that correlate with invasion of Chinese privet (CHP), and to develop a model to predict the probability of CHP invasion in Piedmont forests. A landscape ecosystem classification (LEC) system-based on the percentage of clay in the B horizon, depth to maximum clay (cm), exposure, terrain shape, and aspect (degrees) was used to determine the soil moisture characteristics of invaded and uninvaded plots. Additional measurements included the cover classes of CHP and other species, litter depth (cm), slope (degrees), overstory basal area (m2ha−1) and soil chemical properties. CHP invasion was negatively correlated with overstory basal area and slope and positively with litter depth and pH. A stepwise logistic regression model containing these four variables was highly sensitive, with an overall accuracy of 78%. Given the accuracy of this model, we propose that it can be used to calculate the probability of invasion in a given area, provided that some basic, readily obtainable site characteristics are known. Results from project 1 were published in a peer-reviewed article in Invasive Plant Science and Management. (2) Spatial and temporal analysis of land-cover changes and water quality in the Lake Issaqueena watershed, South Carolina. From 1951 to 2009, the watershed experienced an increase of tree cover and bare ground (+17.4% evergreen, +62.3% deciduous, +9.8% bare ground) and a decrease of pasture/ grassland and cultivated (-42.6% pasture/grassland and -57.1% cultivated). From 2005 to 2009, there was an increase of 21.5% in residential/ other development. Sampling depth ranged from 0.1 meters to 0.3 meters. Water temperature fluctuated corresponding to changing air temperatures, and dissolved oxygen content fluctuated as a factor of water temperature. Inorganic nitrogen content was higher from December to April possibly due to application of fertilizers prior to the growing season. Turbidity and fecal coliform bacteria levels remained relatively the same from 1962 to 2005, but a slight decline in pH can be observed at both stations. Prior to 1938, the area consisted of single-crop cotton farms, after 1938 the farms were abandoned, leaving large bare areas with highly eroded soil. Starting in 1938, Clemson reforested almost 30% of the watershed. Currently, three-fourths of the watershed is forestland, with a limited coverage of small farms and residential developments. Monitoring water quality is essential in maintaining adequate freshwater supply. Water quality monitoring focuses mainly on the collection of field data, but current water quality conditions depend on the cumulative impacts of land cover change over time. Results from this project were published in a peer-reviewed article in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Pilgrim, C.M., Mikhailova, E.A., Post, C.J., and J.J. Hains. 2014. Spatial and temporal analysis of land-cover changes and water quality in the Lake Issaqueena watershed, South Carolina. Technical Contribution No. 6296 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Environ. Monit. Assess. 186(11):7617-7630.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Hagan, D., Mikhailova, E., Shearman, T., Ma, P., Nankaya, J., Hart, S., Valdetero, H., Bridges, W., and H. Yun. 2014. The role of soil and landscape factors in Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) invasion in the Appalachian Piedmont. Technical Contribution No. 6249 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Invas. Plant Sci. Manage. 7(3):483-490.


Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Soil and water conservationists. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? During this period, two MS and one PhD students have completed their theses and submitted several articles in peer-reviewed journals. Several undergraduate students were involved in field and laboratory work supported by the Creative Inquiry program at Clemson University. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Climate and land use changes are the most pervasive issues facing the Southeastern United States. These dynamic landscapes are facing a range of environmental problems such as: urbanization, invasive species, climate change, water quality and quantity. Research on soil inorganic carbon sequestration from atmospheric sources shows that average annual potential soil inorganic carbon sequestration in South Carolina ranges from 4 to 44 kg C km-2 (1994-2003). South Carolina is dominated by the soil order of Ultisols, which is the 10th in terms of relative ranking for potential soil inorganic carbon sequestration from atmospheric sources among 12 soil orders. Kudzu is increasingly prevalent in the landscapes of the southeastern United States and can be used by both domestic animals and wildlife as a feed. Despite the drought conditions, kudzu remained a viable feed where other legumes may not have survived these conditions. The LiDAR has the potential to provide reliable and rapid estimates of site index variability within the soil map units. Loblolly pine and shortleaf pine had the greatest statistical differences, with the LiDAR-derived site indices being much larger than the SSURGO values. The results of this study indicate that a larger sample size for LiDAR is a better option to decrease variation and that the map unit level may be the best option. The results of these projects have been disseminated through a range of outlets from peer-reviewed publications to poster presentations at the national Soil Science Society of America meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The overall goal of this project is to assess changes in soils, site index, and soil carbon in dynamic landscapes of the Southeastern U.S. Impacts of invasive plant species (Kudzu) and urban development’s issues are also examined. To accomplish these goals, three projects were completed: (1) Quantification of potential contribution of combined atmospheric Ca2+ and Mg2+ wet deposition within the continental U.S. to soil inorganic carbon sequestration. The soil orders receiving the highest total average annual atmospheric wet Ca2+ and Mg2+ deposition, expressed as potential inorganic carbon formation (barring losses from erosion and leaching), were: 1) Mollisols (1.1 × 108 kg C), 2) Alfisols (8.4 × 107 kg C), 3) Entisols (3.8 × 107 kg C), and 4) Aridisols (2.8 × 107 kg C). In terms of area-normalized result, the soil orders were ranked: 1) Histosols (73 kg C km−2), 2) Alfisols and Vertisols (64 kg C km−2), 3) Mollisols (62 kg C km−2), and 4) Spodosols (52 kg C km−2). Results from project 1 were published in a peer-reviewed article in Pedosphere. (2) Evaluation of nutritive value of Pueraria montana (kudzu) during the drought-prone growing season. Overall, kudzu’s nutritive value as feed for ruminants during the drought-prone growing season is highly variable; however, chemical composition was very comparable to other common forages. Results from this project were published in a peer-reviewed article in Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis. (3) Site index project: Sustainable forest and soil management requires accurate information about site index (tree height at a base age). The objectives of this study were to compare site indices from field inventory data (2008–2009), Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and to determine the uncertainty in the site indices from the southern part of the Clemson Experimental Forest. When LiDAR-derived analysis was used to compare with SSURGO, there were statistical differences for site indices for all of the tree species in this study: loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), scarlet oak (Quercus coccinea), shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata), white oak (Quercus alba), and yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). Results from this project were published in 1 peer-reviewed journal: Soil Science.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Ham, S.A., Mikhailova, E.A., Gering, L.R., Post, C.J., Bridges, W.C., and S.K. Cox. 2013. Temporal analysis of field, SSURGO, and LiDAR derived site indices in the Southeastern U.S. Technical Contribution No. 6069 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Soil Sci. 178(7):325-334.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Mikhailova, E.A., Goddard, M.A., Post, C.J., Schlautman, M.A., and J.M. Galbraith. 2013. Potential contribution of combined atmospheric Ca2+ and Mg2+ wet deposition within the continental U.S. to soil inorganic carbon sequestration. Technical Contribution No. 5687 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Pedosphere 23(6):808-814.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Mikhailova, E.A., Cherney, D.J.R., Snyder, L.U., Kelly, S.M., Post, C.J., Sharp, J.L., and S.K. Cox. 2013. Evaluation of nutritive value of Pueraria montana (kudzu) during the drought-prone growing season. Technical Contribution No. 5686 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 44:1-11.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Mikhailova, E.A., Tennant, C.H., Post, C.J., Cicimurri, C., and D. Cicimurri. 2013. Geology museum based learning in soil science education. Technical Contribution No. 5769 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Nat. Sci. Educ. 42:43-48.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Werts, J.D., Mikhailova, E.A., Post, C.J., and J.L. Sharp. 2013. Sediment pollution assessment of abandoned developments using remote sensing and GIS. Technical Contribution No. 5903 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Pedosphere 23(1):39-47.


Progress 07/20/12 to 09/30/12

Outputs
Target Audience: Soil and water conservationists. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Over the duration of this grant, this project helped to train various students. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Land use change is one of the most pervasive issues facing the Southeastern United States. These dynamic landscapes are facing a range of environmental problems such as: urbanization, invasive species, climate change, water quality and quantity. Research on abandoned developments was the first study to demonstrate the impact of the economic crisis on soil erosion control practices and sediment pollution from these unfinished developments. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Land use change is one of the most pervasive issues facing the Southeastern United States. These dynamic landscapes are facing a range of environmental problems such as: urbanization, invasive species, climate change, water quality and quantity. Research on abandoned developments was the first study to demonstrate the impact of the economic crisis on soil erosion control practices and sediment pollution from these unfinished developments. To accomplish these goals, the following project was completed: Sediment pollution assessment of abandoned developments using remote sensing and GIS. This project indicated 301 sites with a total bare soil area of 2,378 hectares over three counties in Upstate South Carolina. Results were summarized in a peer-reviewed article, which was accepted for publication in Environmental Management.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Werts, J.D., Mikhailova, E.A., Post, C.J., and J.L. Sharp. 2012. An integrated WebGIS framework for volunteered geographic information and social media in soil and water conservation. Technical Contribution No. 5902 of the Clemson University Experiment Station. Environ. Manag. 49(4):816-832.