Topsoil physico-chemical properties from the UKCEH Countryside Survey, Great Britain, 2023

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This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence

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https://doi.org/10.5285/fe58d52e-f00c-4895-a35e-26b7353cc275

This dataset consists of measures of topsoil (0-15 cm) physico-chemical properties from soils sampled from 150 x 1-km squares across Great Britain in 2023 as part of a rolling soil and vegetation monitoring program of 500 1-km squares repeated every 5 years. The properties included are: pH, soil organic matter (loss on ignition, LOI), derived carbon concentration and carbon stock (soil organic carbon, SOC), soil group, soil bulk density of fine earth, soil moisture of wet soil, fine earth volumetric water content (dry), nitrogen concentration and stock, and Olsen-phosphorus concentration.

The UKCEH Countryside Survey is a unique study or 'audit' of the natural resources of the UK's countryside. The sample sites are chosen from a stratified random sample, based on a 15 by 15 km grid of GB. Surveys have been carried out in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1998 and 2007 by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and predecessors, with repeated visits to most of the squares. The countryside is sampled and surveyed using rigorous scientific methods, allowing us to compare new results with those from previous surveys. In this way, we can detect the gradual and subtle changes that occur in the UK's countryside over time. In addition to soil data, vegetation species data are also gathered by the current phase of the UKCEH Countryside Survey.

This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council award number NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK-SCAPE programme delivering National Capability and through the UKCEH National Capability for UK Challenges Programme NE/Y006208/1.

Publication date: 2024-11-19

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Format

Comma-separated values (CSV)

Spatial information

Study area

Spatial representation type

Raster

Spatial reference system

OSGB 1936 / British National Grid

Temporal information

Temporal extent

2023-01-01 to 2023-12-31

Provenance & quality

Within each of 150 x 1km sample squares, a set of soil samples were taken from up to 5 pre-determined randomly dispersed locations (where practically possible). The soil sample analysed for soil metrics was taken using a black plastic core ('C-core'), 15 cm long, from a location co-incident with vegetation surveys.

After collection, the soil cores were refrigerated and stored until posted, usually within a couple of days, to laboratories at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), Bangor and Lancaster. Analysed data were transferred to secure databases at UKCEH following sample analysis.

Licensing and constraints

This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence

Cite this dataset as:

Bentley, L.; Brentegani, M.; Andrews, C.; Brown, K.; Cope, S.; Ebuele, V.; Emmett, B.A.; Fitos, E.; Friend, R.; Garbutt, R.A.; Gray, A.; Hancock, G.; Henrys, P.A.; Higgins, A.; Keenan, P.; Keith, A.M.; Lebron, I.; Moscrop, A.; O'Brien, L.; Pallett, D.W.; Pereira, M.G.; Reinsch, S.; Risser, H.; Rowe, R.L.; Scarlett, P.; Smart, S.M.; Tandy, S.; Towill, J.; Wagner, M.; Wood, C.M.; Robinson, D.A. (2024). Topsoil physico-chemical properties from the UKCEH Countryside Survey, Great Britain, 2023. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/fe58d52e-f00c-4895-a35e-26b7353cc275

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