Sonoma Mountain Institute

After the initial work in our grassland we became curious…Is there a difference in the soilfood web of native and non-native plant species? So we went ahead and took a “look see”. Jacob and I went to a local preserve containing a good population of native species in their grassland. Within this particular area the delineation is clear between the native species and where the non-native species are established. We took samples from the root zone of four plants, each plant was dominant in that particular area. (Phalaris aquatica – invasive, Hordeum brachyantherum – native, Elymus glaucus – native, and a combination area of Danthonia californica and Nassella pulchra – native).

Pepperwood Sample Spreadsheet 04.01.08

Along with this data, the monthly soilfood webs on three grassland communities are dominated by three non-native species, Phalaris aquatica, Holcus lanatus and Avena sp., Check the last post for data comparison.

Note that the two starthistle samples were taken from an area that had been treated with an unknown chemical three years previous. This year it is finally showing a little plant life…so out of curiosity I took two samples. The other, Nassella pulchra is taken next to one of the chemically treated areas as a comparison.

Within these few samples taken from the preserve and the monthly monitoring project, I am not seeing any standout data, other than the chemically treated starthistle areas being much lower in microbiology. For a follow up we are going to go back next week to take two more samples from each area for replication.

Here is an updated spreadsheet of the seasonal grassland monitoring project.

Seasonal Grassland Monitoring First 5 Months

During the analysis of the grassland experiment data we observed seasonal shifts/trends within each of the three communities (Perennial Wet, Perennial Dry and Annual Upland) leading us to further inquiry. In November 2007, we began conducting monthly soil biology and soil chemistry tests on the three control plots (west) used in the grassland experiment.

Here are the soil biology results from the first three months of monitoring:

Seasonal Grassland Monitoring First 3 Months

Currently I am coordinating with my botany teacher to schedule a time to collect soil samples from a few native grassland patches at Pepperwood preserve. This might give us some insight into how the baseline data of our non-native grasslands compare to the soil foodweb profile of native grasslands?

The updated grassland experiment data has been reviewed and the final write-up is complete.

In brief, this experiment has not altered the soil biology or chemistry with any of our treatments to make a significant measurable difference; nor did we observe a change in percent coverage of native and non-native grass species. Our data does reflect seasonal trends within the control plots that support further study.

Please see the full document and data sheet below:

Final Grassland Write-Up 02.05.08

GL Soil Biology Data

Below is a spreadsheet showing what data we have thus far for seasonally monitoring the biology of our Oak trial plots.

During the oak trials, we had three blocks with six plots in each block.  The white plot in each was the control, which received no tea or compost or foods.

For our seasonal data collection, we have been taking a sample from each of the three white plots on the same day of each month to see how the soil biology changes through the year.  The spreadsheet shows the average of the three samples for each date we have so far.

Seasonal Oak Averages

Seems like in the last three months, the protozoa are down overall, as are the total fungi. Normal seasonal pattern?

With the discover that we had been incorrectly entering data into our SFI database, I have pulled the “Final Grasslands Write-Up” from the SMI blog. This update will effect our last round of 27 tests, changing the values of active fungi, total fungi and their ratios. Currently, all the Grassland Experiment data is updated and compiled into spreadsheets for Jacob, Cate and I to review. Once the final conclusions are made, I will post the updated (and hopefully final) Grassland Experiment Write-Up.

The week of December 17 SMI set up an oak nursery, planting approximately 400 acorns collected from the SMI property. See the picture below of the initial set-up. Upon returning from the holiday, I was curious to check in on the acorns…to find it had taken a beating by the heavy rains as well as scavenged by the local squirrels.

Next step, harvest more acorns (hopefully we can find more this time of year) and reseed. This time we will cover the planters with screens.

Tree Experiment Background:
In June of 2006, Sonoma Mountain Institute (SMI) began a replicated study on the effects of five different biological treatments for improving the health of diseased oak woodlands.

Tree Experiment Data Sheet

The experiment treatments (outlined below) were applied to three separate blocks of six plots each on the SMI property, and replicated in another block of six plots at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center (OAEC).
The treatment applications were:
• White Plot: Control / Water
• Red Plot: Water plus 1 unit of fungal food
• Green Plot: ACT (Aerated Compost Tea)

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