Bentley, L. et al

Winter topsoil physico-chemical properties from the UKCEH Countryside Survey, Great Britain, 2021

Name: Winter topsoil physico-chemical properties from the UKCEH Countryside Survey, Great Britain, 2021
Published: 2024-11-25

https://doi.org/10.5285/38d6f5b4-4d03-4006-aa55-91894378ef27 Cite this dataset

This dataset consists of measures of topsoil (0-15 cm) physico-chemical properties from 575 soils sampled from 146 x 1 km squares across Great Britain collected in winter 2021 as part of the UKCEH Countryside Survey. The properties included are: pH, soil organic matter (loss on ignition, LOI), derived carbon concentration and carbon stock from LOI (SOC), soil group, soil bulk density of fine earth, soil moisture of wet soil, fine earth volumetric water content (dry), and nitrogen concentration and stock.

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 as part of the UK-SCAPE programme delivering National Capability (NE/R016429/1) and NC UK (NE/Y006208/1).

Publication date: 2024-11-25

Format

Comma-separated values (CSV)

Spatial information

Study area
Spatial representation type: Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system: OSGB 1936 / British National Grid

Temporal information

Temporal extent: 2021-12-01 to 2022-02-28

Provenance & quality

The 1km grid squares sampled in the topsoil winter survey were selected from the whole Countryside Survey (CS) square population. Squares featuring only non-target habitats (Broadleaved and Coniferous woodlands, Bogs and Fen, Marsh, and Swamp) were excluded. Care was taken to replicate the CS square distribution within environmental zones as closely as possible within the given constraints.

Within each of the 146 x 1-km 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.

A robust system is in place to apply quality assurance (QA) checks to the data on a regular basis. UKCEH laboratory staff and data scientists developed a data workflow to ensure the highest possible data standard using R-scripts and guidance documents. Throughout this workflow, any changes or updates made to the dataset are recorded against the data record and the QA step that necessitated the change, to ensure data processing is transparent and auditable.