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University of Minnesota
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Methods for Experiment 093 -

Field Operations: Burning

Field D is within burn compartment #6 (106). This field is burned two years out of every three.

afie093 - 1992 Seed addition sections and species

1992 Seed addition sections and species method

In the month of June 1992, each of the 30 plots were divided into 4 sections. Seeds of a combination of various species were added to two sections. The other remaining two sections were used as controls. There are 10 treatments in this experiment. Each treatment consists of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 54 species randomly pooled from a total of 54 species. Each treatment is replicated six times. These are true replicates of the number of species added but not of the species composition.

pce093 - Plant species percent cover data

Sampling

1991: Percent cover estimates of vegetation were done in September for each of the sixteen subplots in each of the thirty plots of E093. Each subplot is 0.5m x 0.5m. Percent cover of bare soil and disturbance (gopher and ant mounds) was also estimated. A strip of vegetation 10cm x 2m was clipped from the center of each plot to estimate biomass production. The strip was not clipped at ground level, but at 1cm above the ground. Litter was collected, but mosses and lichens were not. These samples were not sorted, but were dried and weighed. Soil samples were taken from four positions in each of the sixteen subplots in each of the thirty plots. Each of the sixteen subplots was mentally divided into four squares. A soil sample was taken from the center of each of these four squares. Therefore, 64 soil samples were taken from each of the 30 plots. 1992: Seedling counts were done in the center .5m X .5m square of each of the 4 subplots of each plot. Percent cover estimates of the vegetation were done in the center .5m X .5m section of each of the 4 subplot. Bareground and litter were included. 1993: Percent cover estimates of the vegetation and seedling counts were done on the middle .5m X .5m section of each subplot (4 per plot) in each plot.

Vegetation Sampling

E093 is in field D. Sampling was done in 1991. A wooden frame 2m x 2m was placed over each plot. A string was stretched across each plot to divide them into 16 subplots. Each subplot was .5m x .5m. Percent cover estimates of vegetation and bare soil in each of the sixteen subplots were done. Percent cover estimates of disturbance caused by ants or pocket gophers were also included. A strip of vegetation 10cm x 2m was clipped from the center of each plot. This strip was not clipped to the ground, but was clipped from 1cm above the ground surface. Mosses and lichens were not picked up. These samples were not sorted, but were dried and weighed.

sdle093 - Seedling density

Sampling

1991: Percent cover estimates of vegetation were done in September for each of the sixteen subplots in each of the thirty plots of E093. Each subplot is 0.5m x 0.5m. Percent cover of bare soil and disturbance (gopher and ant mounds) was also estimated. A strip of vegetation 10cm x 2m was clipped from the center of each plot to estimate biomass production. The strip was not clipped at ground level, but at 1cm above the ground. Litter was collected, but mosses and lichens were not. These samples were not sorted, but were dried and weighed. Soil samples were taken from four positions in each of the sixteen subplots in each of the thirty plots. Each of the sixteen subplots was mentally divided into four squares. A soil sample was taken from the center of each of these four squares. Therefore, 64 soil samples were taken from each of the 30 plots. 1992: Seedling counts were done in the center .5m X .5m square of each of the 4 subplots of each plot. Percent cover estimates of the vegetation were done in the center .5m X .5m section of each of the 4 subplot. Bareground and litter were included. 1993: Percent cover estimates of the vegetation and seedling counts were done on the middle .5m X .5m section of each subplot (4 per plot) in each plot.