History and Experimental Design
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Experimental design: The experiment uses a 2 x 2 factorial randomized design to test the effects of fertilization, mowing and their interaction on community variables. Treatments are replicated on eight 20’ x 30’ blocks. Plant and soil community composition are sampled at three 1 m2 randomly-located permanent quadrats in each treatment plot (96 quadrats total).
Fertilizer treatment: Fertilizer is applied in February, June and October of each year. Pellet fertilizer of 10-10-10 (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) composition is broadcast at a concentration of 28 kg per hectare. Mowing treatment: Mowed plots are bush-hogged each winter (December-January) by the ECU grounds department. Plots are then hand-raked to remove leaf litter. |
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Experiment timeline:
2002: Project funded by NSF DUE Adaptation and Implementation grant
2003: Experimental site burned, bushhogged and disked, treatments initiated
2004: First plant data collected
2014: Soil microbes first sampled. Every year, 6 composite soils cores (12 cm depth, 3 cm diameter) are combined at each experimental plot. Soils are homogenized and sieved (4 mm) and analyzed for microbial community composition, carbon mineralization potential, and soil chemistry.
2002: Project funded by NSF DUE Adaptation and Implementation grant
2003: Experimental site burned, bushhogged and disked, treatments initiated
2004: First plant data collected
2014: Soil microbes first sampled. Every year, 6 composite soils cores (12 cm depth, 3 cm diameter) are combined at each experimental plot. Soils are homogenized and sieved (4 mm) and analyzed for microbial community composition, carbon mineralization potential, and soil chemistry.