Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: My primary target audiences were undergraduate forestry and wildlife students. I delivered information to them through a variety of modes: classroom instruction, laboratory instruction, and a capstone practicum experience. Other forestry and natural resources professionals were engaged through exchanges at multiple professional meetings at the local, regional, and national levels. The professional groups at these meetings included forest landowners, environmental researchers, soil scientists, ecologists, foresters, wildlife managers/biologists, and farmers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Findings from this investigation have been disseminated to target audiences through a variety of modes. Peer-reviewed publications were used to reach research-oriented audiences. Presentations and interactions at professional meetings were used to reach both research and practicing professional audiences, and classroom and laboratory instruction was used to communicate with undergraduate audiences. 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 measurement of changes in forest ecosystems under different management regimes was accomplished through both direct measurements of forest soils and vegetation and through indirect measurements taken via new near infrared spectroscopic (NIRS) techniques. A variety of forest soil systems were included in the investigation from two regions in Arkansas: Ozark forest soils and western gulf coastal plain forest soils. Soil parameters of primary interest were texture, density, and carbon/nitrogen status. Additionally, more detailed elemental analyses were conducted for the Ozark soils. Statistical analyses of changes in forest soils and vegetation were conducted for inferences on the sustainability of forest management practices. With increasing pressures globally to increase food and fiber production while also preserving or improving ecological services, analytical tools like NIRS are needed in order for precision resource management to be viable. This project developed a spectral library for the soils that were sampled. By increasing the size of the reference library, the ability to create robust, accurate models of soil chemical properties should improve. Advances in spectral analytical technologies are progressing in many disciplines, and it is both wise and appropriate for soil scientists, ecologists, foresters, and biologists to explore the potential of NIRS for advancing our understanding of the processes that drive our natural systems. Specific objectives of this project were: 1) to evaluate the effectiveness of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) as an analytical tool for quantifying the chemical and physical properties of forest soils, 2) to develop NIRS calibration libraries for select Arkansas forest soils, and 3) to determine if NIRS models developed from forest vegetation can accurately estimate the chemical composition of the soil in which the vegetation is growing. Each of these objectives was addressed in both the Ozark and western gulf coastal plain regions. Ozark Region: Soil samples were taken from eight study areas across the Ozark Highlands of Arkansas, and NIRS calibration models were developed to determine the accuracy of using NIRS to analyze soils compared with standard soil chemical analysis protocols. Multivariate regression models were highly effective for analyzing several important elements. C and N models explained 92% and 88% of their variation, respectively, and Ca, Mg, P, and Mn models explained 72-88% of the variability in these elements. Models for C:N and pH explained 82% and 86% of their variability, respectively. Models for micronutrients Cu and Zn did not fit as well with 22% and 40% of their variability explained, respectively. These findings suggest that additional NIRS calibration and modeling is promising for rapidly analyzing the chemical composition of soils, and it is desirable to develop model libraries that are calibrated for the soils of a given region. The efficacy of using NIRS to quantify nutrients in vegetation was assessed using foliage from blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium pallidum). Plants were collected from eight sites set up across the Ozark Highlands region, and spectra from the NIRS analysis of the leaves were used to predict both nutrient concentrations in the leaves and in the soils which the plants were growing. Of the soil parameters, P was most highly predicted with R2 = 0.64, but N, C, pH, and Ca were all predicted with a high degree of success. Crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, P, and several other nutrients concentrations in the leaves were also predicted with a high level of success (R2 ≥ 0.90). These results demonstrate that NIRS analytical methodologies can provide a rapid, cost-effective, and robust means by which land managers can accurately quantify soil quality with respect to potential productivity and ecosystem services. The findings further show that NIRS is a viable analytical approach for quantifying most of the elemental components of Ozark forest soils. Additionally, NIRS also is highly effective for quantifying other soil chemical properties, such as pH and C:N ratio, which are of profound significance for interpreting soil test results and estimating the potential mineralization or immobilization of plant essential elements. Through additional investigation it should be possible to quantify other soil chemical and physical properties with NIRS to glean additional information that can improve both biomass production and ecosystem services. Western Gulf Coastal Plain Region: To quantify the physical and chemical properties within the Amy soil series, a common forest soil in the region, soil samples were collected to a depth of 0–15cm and 15–30cm from soil individuals mapped as the Amy silt loam soils in five different locations in southeastern Arkansas. The physical and chemical properties of soil were analyzed through standardized methodologies to assess site parameters known to be integral to forest productivity and ecosystem function. NIRS spectral libraries were developed for the soil samples. At the depth of 0-15 cm, NIRS successfully predicted soil parameters, such as sand (R2 = 0.85), silt (R2 = 0.80), clay (R2 = 0.91), N (R2 = 0.75), C (R2 = 0.77), soil pH (R2 = 0.94), P (R2 = 0.80), K (R2 = 0.83), Ca (R2 = 0.92), Mg (R2 = 0.92), S (R2 = 0.81), Mn (R2 = 0.93) and B (R2 = 0.89). Similarly, at the depth of 15-30 cm, sand (R2 = 0.86), silt (R2 = 0.89), clay (R2 = 0.96), N (R2 = 0.79), C (R2 = 0.82), soil pH (R2 = 0.91), P (R2 = 0.88), K (R2 = 0.93), Ca (R2 = 0.89), Mg (R2 = 0.89), Fe (R2 = 0.81), Na (R2 = 0.87), Mn (R2 = 0.97), Zn (R2 = 0.96), Cu (R2 = 0.82) and B (R2 = 0.95) were well predicted. These results demonstrate that NIRS is a non-destructive, accurate, reliable, and ecologically viable analytical technique to replace standard laboratory methods for routine analysis of western gulf coastal plain forest soils .
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Sleeper, B.E. and R.L. Ficklin. In Press. Distribution of soil density at a bottomland hardwood forest wetland restoration, Chicot county, Arkansas. Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science. 4 pp.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Bhandari, B. and R.L. Ficklin. In Review. Development of near infrared spectral models for characterizing the Amy soil series. Soil Horizons Journal.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Sleeper, B.E., R.L. Ficklin, and J.D. Carr. 2013. Distribution of soil density at a bottomland hardwood forest wetland restoration, Chicot county, Arkansas. Abstract. Arkansas Academy of Science Meeting. April 5-6, 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Sleeper, B.E. and R.L. Ficklin. 2013. Edaphic response to bottomland hardwood forest wetland restoration in Arkansas. Abstract. ASA, CSSA and SSSA Annual Meetings. Tampa, FL, November 3-6, 2013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2009
Citation:
Ficklin, R.L. and B. Bhandari. 2009. Heterogeneity of Soil Physical Properties within One Phase of Amy Series Soils. Abstract. Arkansas Academy of Science. Clarksville, AR. April 3-4.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) and multivariate modeling were utilized in combination with standard soil physical and chemical analyses to quantify soil properties for five Amy silt loam soils in southeastern Arkansas. NIRS calibration models were developed from spectral scans of soil that was intensively sampled from each of the soil individuals, and these spectral signatures as well as the multivariate calibration models are archived for inclusion in future spectral models that will build upon this work. One manuscript on the intra- and inter-variation of Amy silt loam properties is in press, and a second manuscript detailing the development of the spectral models is under preparation. One Master's thesis was defended and delivered on this work. PARTICIPANTS: Bikash Bhandari, Graduate Research Assistant Hal O. Liechty, Professor Michael A. Blazier, Research Assistant Professor Michael G. Shelton, Research Forester, USDA Forest Service-SRS (Co-Principal Investigator) University of Arkansas at Monticello Louisiana State University U.S.D.A. Forest Service TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
NIR Spectral data were significantly correlated with many soil chemical and physical properties, and elements of primary ecological significance (C, N, P) were well predicted by the spectral models. This work is an expansion of my previous NIRS modeling work in the Ozark Highlands. To date my results indicate that spectral modeling is effective and efficient for rapidly measuring soil properties under a range of soil conditions. Similar types of correlations were found for elements in both the residuum soils of the Ozarks and the Western Gulf Coastal Plain soils of southeast Arkansas. Based upon the results of these preliminary investigations, another project is being initiated to develop robust spectral models for multiple soil series that are of silvicultural and agricultural importance in southeast Arkansas. By developing spectral equations for soils based on established soil map units, it should be possible for researchers and resource managers to utilize NIRS technology for expediting biogeochemical characterizations of soil samples. Implementation of this technology will improve sustainable forest resource management.
Publications
- Liechty, H.O., M.A. Blazier, J.P. Wright, L.A. Gaston, J.P. Richardson, R.L. Ficklin. 2009. Assessment of repeated application of poultry litter on phosphorus and nitrogen dynamics in loblolly pine: implications for water quality. Forest Ecology and Management 258:2294-2303.
- Bhandari, B. and R.L. Ficklin. 2010. Characterizing the variability of chemical properties of soil mapped as Amy Silt Loam soils in southeastern Arkansas. Arkansas Academy of Science. Clarksville, AR. April 3-4.
- Ficklin, R.L. and M.G. Shelton. In Press. Effects of light regimes on 2-year-old sweetgum and water oak seedlings. In: Proceedings of the Fifteenth Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference. November 17-20, 2008. Hot Springs, AR.
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