Soil water content measurements from a long-term western larch spacing and thinning study in northwestern Montana, 1967-1991

Metadata:
Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Hayes, Danielle F.
Originator: Wright, David K.
Originator: Crotteau, Justin S.
Publication_Date: 2022
Title:
Soil water content measurements from a long-term western larch spacing and thinning study in northwestern Montana, 1967-1991
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2022-0064
Description:
Abstract:
This data publication contains soil water data collected at the western larch spacing study in western Montana. It is a supplement to the core study that was established in 1961 and was conducted on the same four replicate sites as the original study. Percent soil water content was quantified using a neutron probe and access tubes for repeat measurements. Measurements of soil water, taken at 12-inch intervals from 6 to 102 inches, were collected approximately every other week during the growing season in 1967-1969, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1983-1984, 1986, and 1988-1991. Minimum and maximum air temperature as well as precipitation measurements are also provided for the dates soil water data were collected.
Purpose:
This study expands on the original western larch spacing study, which was established to develop spacing guides that could be used in the management of young western larch for any single or combination of desired end-products. The original study focused on thinning western larch stands that were approximately ten years old at the start of the study and was intended to continue for 40 years. This data package is one of multiple supplements to the spacing study. It was designed to assess the effects of tree spacing (i.e., stem density) on stand water usage. Moreover, it was designed to determine the basic process of water use in larch stands, including the amount, rate, and period of soil moisture use by vegetation under various levels of site occupancy.
Supplemental_Information:
For information on the core study and associated supplementary studies see Wyman (1998) and Hayes et al. (2021).
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 1968
Ending_Date: 1991
Currentness_Reference:
Ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
This study was conducted on four replicate sites located in northwestern Montana.

The Coram 1 and Coram 2 replicates are located on Coram Experimental Forest which comprises approximately 7,500 acres of forest in the Hungry Horse Ranger District of Flathead National Forest in northwestern Montana. The Cottonwood replicate is located near Cottonwood Lake on the Seeley Lake Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in northwestern Montana. Pinkham replicate is located near Pinkham Creek on the Rexford Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest in northwestern Montana.

Bounding coordinates (latitude and longitude) for each site are as follows:

Replicate 1, Coram 1: N 48.393; E 113.966; S 48.389; W 113.979
Replicate 2, Coram 2: N 48.391; E 113.974; S 48.386; W 113.982
Replicate 3, Cottonwood: N 47.179; E 113.375; S 47.174; W 113.386
Replicate 4, Pinkham: N 48.677; E 115.115; S 48.671; W 115.124

See \Supplements\Site-information.pdf for more information.
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -115.12400
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -113.37500
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.67700
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.17400
Bounding_Altitudes:
Altitude_Minimum: 3675
Altitude_Maximum: 5400
Altitude_Distance_Units: feet
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: precommercial thinning
Theme_Keyword: spacing
Theme_Keyword: soil water
Theme_Keyword: water use
Theme_Keyword: western larch
Theme_Keyword: long-term study
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: environment
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Ecology
Theme_Keyword: Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment
Theme_Keyword: Forest & Plant Health
Theme_Keyword: Forest management
Theme_Keyword: Plant ecology
Theme_Keyword: Soil
Theme_Keyword: Water
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Montana
Place_Keyword: Northern Rocky Mountains
Place_Keyword: Flathead National Forest
Place_Keyword: Hungry Horse Ranger District
Place_Keyword: Abbott Creek
Place_Keyword: Coram Experimental Forest
Place_Keyword: Kootenai National Forest
Place_Keyword: Rexford Ranger District
Place_Keyword: Pinkham Creek
Place_Keyword: Lolo National Forest
Place_Keyword: Seeley Lake Ranger District
Place_Keyword: Cottonwood Lakes
Taxonomy:
Keywords/Taxon:
Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus:
None
Taxonomic_Keywords: plants
Taxonomic_Keywords: vegetation
Taxonomic_Keywords: single species
Taxonomic_System:
Classification_System/Authority:
Classification_System_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: ITIS
Publication_Date: 2021
Title:
Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: database
Other_Citation_Details:
Retrieved [September 29, 2021]
Online_Linkage: http://www.itis.gov
Taxonomic_Procedures:
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Plantae
Applicable_Common_Name: plantes
Applicable_Common_Name: Planta
Applicable_Common_Name: Vegetal
Applicable_Common_Name: plants
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: SubKingdom
Taxon_Rank_Value: Viridiplantae
Applicable_Common_Name: green plants
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Division
Taxon_Rank_Value: Tracheophyta
Applicable_Common_Name: vascular plants
Applicable_Common_Name: tracheophytes
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Class
Taxon_Rank_Value: Pinopsida
Applicable_Common_Name: conifers
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass
Taxon_Rank_Value: Pinidae
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Order
Taxon_Rank_Value: Pinales
Applicable_Common_Name: pines
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Family
Taxon_Rank_Value: Pinaceae
Applicable_Common_Name: pines
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus
Taxon_Rank_Value: Larix
Applicable_Common_Name: larch
Taxonomic_Classification:
Taxon_Rank_Name: Species
Taxon_Rank_Value: Larix occidentalis
Applicable_Common_Name: hackmatack
Applicable_Common_Name: Montana larch
Applicable_Common_Name: mountain larch
Applicable_Common_Name: western tamarack
Applicable_Common_Name: western larch
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product, please use the following citation:

Hayes, Danielle F.; Wright, David K.; Crotteau, Justin S. 2022. Soil water content measurements from a long-term western larch spacing and thinning study in northwestern Montana, 1967-1991. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2022-0064
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Forest and Woodland Ecosystems
Contact_Person: David K. Wright
Contact_Position: Ecologist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 800 East Beckwith Avenue
City: Missoula
State_or_Province: MT
Postal_Code: 59801
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 406-542-4150
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: david.wright2@usda.gov
Browse_Graphic:
Browse_Graphic_File_Name: \Supplements\Plot-Maps\Coram_replicate1.pdf
Browse_Graphic_File_Description:
Map of study replicate 1 in Coram Experimental Forest.
Browse_Graphic_File_Type: PDF
Browse_Graphic:
Browse_Graphic_File_Name: \Supplements\Plot-Maps\Coram_replicate2.pdf
Browse_Graphic_File_Description:
Map of study replicate 2 in Coram Experimental Forest.
Browse_Graphic_File_Type: PDF
Browse_Graphic:
Browse_Graphic_File_Name: \Supplements\Plot-Maps\Cottonwood.pdf
Browse_Graphic_File_Description:
Map of study replicate 3 in Cottonwood Lakes.
Browse_Graphic_File_Type: PDF
Browse_Graphic:
Browse_Graphic_File_Name: \Supplements\Plot-Maps\Pinkham.pdf
Browse_Graphic_File_Description:
Map of study replicate 4 in Pinkham Creek.
Browse_Graphic_File_Type: PDF
Data_Set_Credit:
Funding for this project provided by USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Original research conducted by Wyman C. Schmidt, Jack Schmidt, and Ward W. McCaughey.


Author Information:

Danielle F. Hayes
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0205-9802

David K. Wright
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0614-326X

Justin S. Crotteau
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8889-822X
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Data originally stored as Microsoft Excel files (XLS, XLSX), text files (TXT), Corel files (WQ1, WB2), Statistical Analysis Software files (SAS), or data files (DATA) were converted to comma-separated values (CSV) files.

Documents were either created digitally or scanned from original documents. Documents originally stored as Microsoft document files (DOC, DOCX), rich text format files (RTF), or WordPerfect document files (WP, WPD) were converted to Portable Document Format files (PDF). Physical documents were scanned at 300 ppi and saved as PDF files.
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Schmidt, Wyman C.
Publication_Date: 1998
Title:
Stand density in relation to biological functions in young western larch forests.
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: conference proceedings
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Publisher: Clear Lake, Ltd.
Other_Citation_Details:
In: Basey, Colin, ed. Stand Density Mangement: Planning and Implementation; Proceedings of a conference held November 6 and 7, 1997; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. p. 101-111.
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/56619
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Hayes, Danielle F.
Originator: Schaedel, Michael S.
Originator: Wright, David K.
Originator: Crotteau, Justin S.
Publication_Date: 2021
Title:
Overstory tree measurements from a long-term western larch spacing and thinning study in northwestern Montana, 1961-2015
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2021-0087
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Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
This is a historical data set. Data collection was performed by a permanent employee over many years. We assume that vigorous data quality and assurance checks were performed on these data assets and any errors in data recording were corrected. Data entry was performed by permanent employees and seasonal technicians using the original, handwritten field data sheets when possible. Data entry was visually inspected for accuracy by a second individual following entry when possible. While we believe that most of the errors in these data have been identified, some errors may still persist.

One known error was found in the data with the maximum air temperature data associated with data collected in August 1984 for locations 2, 3 and 4. In this case, the electronic data show the minimum temperature values are greater than the maximum temperatures. We attribute this error to data entry and at this time have not been able to locate the original temperature data to cross reference and correct.

Another potential error is with the soil volume percent collected on June 19, 1969: Loc 1, Plot 8, and Tube 1. A percent of zero was recorded for the 6-inch depth while all proceeding depths had greater than 0 percent values; it is conceivable that the soil layer at top was virtually dry caused by localized weather, soil and vegetative conditions.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
This is a historical data set. Data have been visually inspected for inconsistencies and cross-referenced with original field data sheets. Accuracy of the data were checked during analysis phases of publications that used these data.
Completeness_Report:
Measurements of replicate 1 and replicate 2 from 1977 (four measurements) are missing. Measurements of replicate 4 from 1971 are missing. Missing data are recorded as ".".

Original drilling and installation records from 1966-1967 have been retained by the authors of this data package but are not yet available in a digital format. Weather data from 1967-1969 that were collected to supplement the neutron probe data for those years have also been retained by the authors of this data package but are not yet available in a digital format.
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
BACKGROUND

This study examined soil water relationships on previously spaced and thinned stands of young western larch. This supplement, referred to internally as study 496-1, was conducted on all of the original replicate sites. This original study is referred to as the core study, which was a long-term study installed in 7- and 9-year-old western larch at these four locations in western Montana. Stands in each of these four locations were thinned to densities ranging from 272 to 6,718 trees per hectare (Wyman 1998). Annual sampling was done during the initial establishment of the study to detect immediate response to initial treatment; then sampling was done at 2- to 5-year intervals to observe intermediate changes; and finally annual measurements after 20-years once insignificant response to treatments was observed.


MEASUREMENTS

Soil moisture measurements were obtained through the use of a neutron probe. The probe contained a radioactive source, in this case 100 millicuries of Americium-beryllium, which was lowered into the ground through pre-installed access tubes. The probe was used in conjunction with a rate meter to obtain the recordings of water content in the soil. The access tubes were installed on all of the plots with four holes drilled at each plot. Measurements were taken every other week during the growing season at 1-foot intervals in the soil to a depth of nine feet or as deep as the access tube allowed. Measurements were recorded by hand in the field.

Weather records from rain gauges and hygrothermographs were also collected in the three areas of the study.


See the original study plan (\Supplements\Study-496-1_Study-Plan.pdf) for more details.


ADDITIONAL HARD COPY DATA AVAILABLE

Additional installation information and data conversion history are currently stored in original hard copy (not available digitally) and are available upon request:

1. Drilling and installation records for each of the access tubes.
2. Multiple neutron probes were used to collect the data.
3. Original field data sheets of recorded field neutron probe electron counts for each of the sampling locations and times; higher counts correlate with greater soil moisture.
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Schmidt, Wyman C.
Publication_Date: 1998
Title:
Stand density in relation to biological functions in young western larch forests.
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: conference proceedings
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Publisher: Clear Lake, Ltd.
Other_Citation_Details:
In: Basey, Colin, ed. Stand Density Mangement: Planning and Implementation; Proceedings of a conference held November 6 and 7, 1997; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. p. 101-111.
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/56619
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Data were recorded by hand on field data sheets and then entered into digital spreadsheets in the office for analysis.
Process_Date: 2020
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Unique conversion equations for each probe were used to calculate soil moisture percent from probe counts. Only one regression equation has been recovered from the historical records (see below). Good approximations of the other conversion equations can be obtained from original data once converted to electronic format.

Y = (50.05555 * Probe count/shield count) - 9.70, where Y = percent moisture volume
Process_Date: Unknown
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Documents were scanned using either an Epson Expression 10000XL scanner, a Canoscan 9000S, or an Epson Perfection V300 at 300 ppi. The documents were post-processed in Adobe Photoshop using a Kodak grey card. Documents were saved as Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
Process_Date: Unknown
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Below you will find a list and description of the files included in this data publication.

DATA FILES (1)

\Data\Neutron-probe-data_496-1.csv: Comma-separated values (CSV) file containing neutron probe data for four replicates at the Coram Experimental Forest, Cottonwood Lakes area, and Pinkham Creek area from 1967-1991. In this data file "." indicates a value that was not recorded. Data range (minimum and maximum recorded values) is also provided for each variable.

Variables include:

Month = Month in which the measurement was recorded. Range = April to November. (4 = April, 5 = May, 6 = June, etc.)

Day = Day of the month on which the measurement was recorded. Range = 1 to 31.

Year = Two-digit year in which the measurement was recorded. Range = 67 - 91. (67 = 1967, 68 = 1968, etc.)

AirMinF = Minimum air temperature at time of measurement in degrees Fahrenheit. Range = 18 - 44.

AirMaxF = Maximum air temperature at time of measurement in degrees Fahrenheit. Range = 1 - 99.

Location = Location where the measurement was collected. (1 = Coram replicate 1; 2 = Coram replicate 2; 3 = Cottonwood replicate; 4 = Pinkham replicate)

Plot = Plot number within the location where the measurement was collected. Range = 1 - 16. (see \Supplements\Neutron-probe-master-location-plot-list.pdf for full description of the plots)

Tube = Number assigned to the tube within the location and plot where the measurement was collected. Range = 1 - 4.

Precipitation = Amount of precipitation where the measurement was collected measured to the nearest 0.01 inch. Range = 0.03 - 12.84.

Percent-water-6 = Percent water by volume at 6 inches deep in the tube. Range = 1.0 - 69.5.

Percent-water-18 = Percent water by volume at 18 inches deep in the tube. Range = 1.7 - 68.5.

Percent-water-30 = Percent water by volume at 30 inches deep in the tube. Range = 2.2 - 58.6.

Percent-water-42 = Percent water by volume at 42 inches deep in the tube. Range = 5.7 - 58.2.

Percent-water-54 = Percent water by volume at 54 inches deep in the tube. Range = 6.9 - 45.3.

Percent-water-66 = Percent water by volume at 66 inches deep in the tube. Range = 8.5 - 45.8.

Percent-water-78 = Percent water by volume at 78 inches deep in the tube. Range = 10.4 - 41.7.

Percent-water-90 = Percent water by volume at 90 inches deep in the tube. Range = 11.1 - 45.8.

Percent-water-102 = Percent water by volume at 102 inches deep in the tube. Range = 12.0 - 46.0.



SUPPLEMENTAL FILES (8)

1. \Supplements\Neutron-probe-master-location-plot-list.pdf: Portable Document Format (PDF) file containing a list of neutron probe locations on each study plot. Includes lists of neutron probe locations from related neutron probe studies.

2. \Supplements\Neutron-probe-practice-IH_019.pdf: PDF file containing a 1987 publication by the Institute of Hydrology (Report 19) "Neutron probe practice (3rd edition)" that describes the general set up and use of a neutron probe in the field.

3. \Supplements\Site-information.pdf: PDF file containing characteristic physical and vegetative descriptions of the four study replicate sites.

4. \Supplements\Study-496-1_Study-Plan.pdf: PDF file containing the 1961 study plan for the neutron probe supplement of the larch spacing study.

5. \Supplements\Plot-Maps\Coram_replicate1.pdf: PDF file containing a map of study replicate 1 in Coram Experimental Forest.

6. \Supplements\Plot-Maps\Coram_replicate2.pdf: PDF file containing a map of study replicate 2 in Coram Experimental Forest.

7. \Supplements\Plot-Maps\Cottonwood.pdf: PDF file containing a map of study replicate 3 in Cottonwood Lakes.

8. \Supplements\Plot-Maps\Pinkham.pdf: PDF file containing a map of study replicate 4 in Pinkham Creek.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
none provided
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Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research and Development
Contact_Position: Research Data Archivist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 240 West Prospect Road
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80526
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: see Contact Instructions
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of July 2022. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Resource_Description: RDS-2022-0064
Distribution_Liability:
Metadata documents have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Unless otherwise stated, all data and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. However, neither the author, the Archive, nor any part of the federal government can assure the reliability or suitability of these data for a particular purpose. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed for a user's application of these data or related materials.

The metadata, data, or related materials may be updated without notification. If a user believes errors are present in the metadata, data, or related materials, please use the information in (1) Identification Information: Point of Contact, (2) Metadata Reference: Metadata Contact, or (3) Distribution Information: Distributor to notify the author or the Archive of the issues.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: CSV
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Comma-separated values (CSV) file
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped with 7-Zip 19.0
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2022-0064
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: PDF
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Portable Document Format (PDF) file
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped with 7-Zip 19.0
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Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2022-0064
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20220706
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Forest and Woodland Ecosystems
Contact_Person: David K. Wright
Contact_Position: Ecologist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 800 East Beckwith Avenue
City: Missoula
State_or_Province: MT
Postal_Code: 59801
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 406-542-4150
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: david.wright2@usda.gov
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999
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