First results from field and buffer soil cores

The results from the soil cores of the first sampling site are back from the laboratories and show some interesting trends and gradients along all three dimensions. Final results will be available next year, after the sampling and analysis is complete, however, preliminary results suggest that P levels are substantially lower in buffer strips throughout all P pools. Especially, deeper layers appear to not only have a higher capacity for P uptake (sorption) but also a lesser degree of P saturation, highlighting the potential of these sub-surface areas for P retention and the importance of infiltration and, thus, the often-neglected vertical dimension.

Soil cores were taken from field and buffer strip soils. (C) BAW-IKT / Ramler
Soil samples were divided into depth classes and analyzed for various physical and chemical parameters in the lab. (C) BAW-IKT / Ramler