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Tuesday 6 September 2016

Aerobic Threshold and 80 Percent of Maximum Heart Rate

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Aerobic Threshold and 80 Percent of Maximum Heart Rate
Running is an excellent aerobic exercise. Photo Credit ViktorCap/iStock/Getty Images
While an anaerobic threshold is a fairly well-defined moment – when you are gasping for breath and you can feel lactic acid making your muscles sting – your aerobic threshold is more often described as a “zone” in which your heart is working from 70 to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate. To reach this level, you are probably running or otherwise exercising vigorously. Your maximum heart rate can be roughly calculated as 220 minus your age, and at 70 percent of that point you are starting to sweat and having trouble talking in full sentences.

Entering the Aerobic Zone

When you are exercising aerobically, your body is able to supply your working muscles with all the oxygen and energy they need. You may be walking, jogging lightly or even running, but as long as you don't increase your pace too much, your body can continue for a long time. Aerobic exercise is any activity that uses large muscle groups and elevates your heart rate to 50 percent to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate. Another way to tell if you are in this zone is the talk test: at an easy pace you can sign a song, but at the higher reaches of aerobic exercise you can barely utter a short sentence.

The Anaerobic Sting

When you breach the anaerobic threshold, however, it’s difficult to talk and your muscles are asking for more oxygen and energy than your body can supply. Your muscles begin to sting and then to ache and very quickly they are no longer able to continue contracting and you have to stop. At this intensity, your heart rate is higher than 80 percent of its maximum and may be at 90 percent or higher.

Expanding the Zone

One goal of exercise is to stretch your aerobic zone by training your body to work aerobically at higher and higher heart rates. You can accomplish this with “tempo” workouts, where you train at a heart rate just below your anaerobic threshold for an extended session, and “interval” workouts, where you train for shorter periods of time but push your heart rate above the anaerobic threshold. These intervals are broken up by recovery periods in which you go easy.

Tempo and Intervals

The best training programs add these tempo and interval workouts after a period of high volume training. High volume training is done at a light intensity level and should only be increased gradually by 10 to 20 percent per week until you reach the volume you want to maintain. When you add tempo and interval workouts, each should constitute no more than 10 percent of your high volume training, and they never should be done on consecutive days.
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How Many Calories Does One Hour of Power Walking & Jogging Burn?

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How Many Calories Does One Hour of Power Walking & Jogging Burn?
Woman walking on country path in fall Photo Credit Anetlanda/iStock/Getty Images
Regular aerobic activity like power walking and jogging can help you live a longer and healthier life. Moving at a moderately brisk pace also increases the number of calories burned. The faster the pace of a power-walk or jog the more calories you'll burn in one hour. Other factors must also be considered when calculating calories burned.

Body Size

Weight and body size affect how many calories you'll burn from one hour of power walking or jogging. The more you weigh or the greater amount of muscle mass, the more calories you'll burn. Someone who weighs 160 pounds may burn 581 calories in an hour when jogging 5 mph, while a person weighing 240 pounds could burn 871 in the same amount of time. Walking at 3.5 mph might burn 276 calories per hour if you weigh 160 pounds or 345 calories if you weigh 200 pounds.

Considerations

Men generally use more calories than women during one hour of power walking or jogging because they tend to have more muscle and less body fat, which allows them burn more calories. Younger people burn calories faster than older adults because muscle mass declines as you get older while fat increases, causing a slowing of calories burned.

Walking or jogging uphill or at an incline on the treadmill can increase calories burned in one hour. A treadmill burns the most calories of standard aerobic machines, notes University of Maryland Medical Center. Many treadmills allow you to increase your pace and adjust the intensity of inclines to further increase the number of calories burned per hour. Treadmills can also keep track of the calories burned.

Weight Control

Burning roughly 300 to 600 calories per hour from power walking or jogging can help people maintain or lose weight and fight obesity. Women who regularly jog, take brisk walks or engage in other forms of aerobic exercise, and do not make any dietary changes lose substantially more weight than less active women.

Beyond Calories

Burning calories from power walking or jogging may not only slim your hips and waistline it can help keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check. People who walk or jog 12 miles a week may lower their LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels, reports University of Maryland Medical Center. Jogging at least 20 miles a week is needed to boost high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, the "good" cholesterol. Jogging about 14 miles a week can help manage high blood pressure and possibly eliminate the need for blood pressure-lowering medications.
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How to Do Power Walking

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How to Do Power Walking
Power walking burns the same amount of calories as jogging. Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Walking is a simple and natural way of moving, but with proper technique, you can turn casual walking into power walking or fitness walking. Power walking is a low-impact way to improve cardiovascular endurance and total body strength. Some of the benefits of power walking are that it helps tone and strengthen your muscles, improves physical health and burns the same amount of calories as jogging. Keep a few tips in mind when power walking, in addition to checking with your physician prior to starting a fitness program.

Step 1

Warm up with a few calisthenics exercises such as jumping rope or jumping jacks for about five minutes. Choose a casual walk for five minutes for a low-impact option.

Step 2

Stretch your muscles to prevent injury. Perform calf, quadriceps, hamstring, hip flexor, shoulder and triceps stretches once your muscles have become warm enough to stretch.

Step 3

Place your arms in a 90-degree angle and keep your back upright.

Step 4

Position your head in a neutral position that is in line with your spine. Keep your gaze looking forward and not at the ground.

Step 5

Open your mouth slightly to ensure proper breathing. Tighten your glutes and abdominals.

Step 6

Step with your heel first and then distribute your weigh onto your toe while using your hips to push you forward.

Step 7

Alternate arms and legs forward to maintain walking in a straight line.

Step 8

Cool down by slowing your pace and dropping your arms by your sides. Continue decreasing your pace until your heart begins to gradually return to normal. Stretch each muscle for 20 to 30 seconds each.
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The Level II aggregated forest soil condition database links soil physicochemical and hydraulic properties with long-term observations of forest condition in Europe

Author
  • Stefan Fleck
  • Bruno De Vos
  • Henning Meesenburg
  • Richard Fischer

  • Open AccessData Paper
    DOI: 10.1007/s13595-016-0571-4


    Cite this article as: 
    Fleck, S., Cools, N., De Vos, B. et al. Annals of Forest Science (2016). doi:10.1007/s13595-016-0571-4

    Abstract

    Key message

    Aggregated, consolidated, and derived soil physicochemical data of 286 ICP Forests Level II plots were completed with soil hydraulic properties for integrated use with forest monitoring data. Database access should be requested athttp://icp-forests.net. Metadata associated available athttps://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/apps/georchestra/?uuid=153e599e-6624-4e2b-b862-8124386ea9cd&hl=eng

    Context

    The ICP Forests database is one of the most comprehensive forest ecosystem datasets in Europe and contains the accumulated results of more than two decades of harmonised forest monitoring all over Europe.

    Aims

    The aim of this paper is to share knowledge on the ICP Forests Level II soil data for broader use among forest scientists.

    Methods

    After standard analysis, quality checks, aggregation, and calculation of derived variables (e.g. nutrient stocks, base saturation, C:N ratio, and water retention parameters), data have been gathered into a static database (AFSCDB.LII.2.2), which will be updated to new versions as soon as new measurements become available.

    Results

    The database provides a basis for the combined evaluation of up to 130 unique soil variables of 286 plots with dynamic data on tree growth, ground vegetation, foliar chemistry, crown condition, tree phenology, leaf area index, ozone injury, litterfall, soil solution chemistry, deposition, ambient air quality, and meteorological data assessed on the same plots.

    Conclusion

    The unprecedented comprehensiveness and level of detail in this newly aggregated database may overcome existing restrictions so far impeding the realisation of large-scale forest ecosystem studies in Europe.

    1. Introduction 






    1.1 European forest monitoring network

    The International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests, www.icp-forests.net) acts since 1985 under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (CLRTAP/UNECE). The 42 participating countries monitor the condition of forests in Europe on two different monitoring intensity levels: Level I locations are more than 11,000 forested points in a network of grid cells of 16 km × 16 km over Europe (without instrumentation), and Level II locations are actually 525 comprehensively instrumented plots in selected forest ecosystems across Europe. While the Level I network was constructed as a dense and spatially representative grid of forest sampling points, the Level II is dedicated to in depth investigations on relationships between all relevant forest ecosystem traits and processes in monitoring plots. The plots were selected by national forest institutes for long-term permanent monitoring. The investigations comprise continuous measurement surveys on meteorology, ambient air quality, deposition, litterfall, and soil solution chemistry (about monthly); annual surveys on crown condition, tree phenology, leaf area index, ground vegetation, ozone injury, and foliage compounds; and biannual surveys on foliar chemistry, five-yearly surveys on tree growth and ground vegetation, and repeated characterisations of soil condition every 10–20 years. The AFSCDB.LII.2.2 refers to the latest (second) soil survey. All assessments are executed following the ICP Forests Manual on Methods and Criteria for Harmonised Sampling, Monitoring and Analysis of the Effects of Air Pollution on Forests (ICP Forests 20062010; Cools and De Vos 2013), which is regularly updated with regard to new methodological developments and field protocols.

    1.2 European supporting project

    Historically, information on soil condition was collected by the participating countries since 1993, when the European Commission for the first time supported a harmonised monitoring programme on Level II plots including a soil survey (European Commission 1994). The first Level II soil condition survey, carried out between 1993 and 1995, provides the reference for the second soil condition survey that started about 10–15 years later. The countries continued, standardised, and extended their soil assessments in the second soil condition survey during the BioSoil demonstration project within the EU project Forest Focus (Regulation (EC) No. 2152/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on 17 November 2003 concerning monitoring of forests and environmental interactions in the Community, 2006–2007, 127 Level II plots) and the EU Life+ project FutMon (2009–2011, 118 Level II plots). During the BioSoil project, it was also possible to deliver formerly collected soil profile and horizon description information as long as the measurement criteria were met for a specific variable.

    1.3 Evolution of sampling design

    Soil sampling and analysis was carried out by national institutes in charge within the participating countries following the Manual on Sampling and Analysis of Soil in the versions valid in the respective years (Expert Panel on Soil and Forest Soil Coordinating Centre 2006; Cools and De Vos 2010 including the FutMon field protocol for the determination of soil water characteristics). The Forest Soil Coordinating Centre of ICP Forests (FSCC) processed all available Level II soil data after the second soil survey (predominantly BioSoil and FutMon data) and consolidated these data in a plotwise-aggregated format in the Aggregated Forest Soil Condition Database of the Level II 2nd soil survey version 1 (AFSCDB.LII.2.1, Cools and De Vos 2014), which provided the basis for the actually presented version 2 (AFSCDB.LII.2.2). The actual version was extended to include soil hydraulic properties and nutrient stocks and has undergone a number of additional checks and corrections.

    1.4 Database content

    Using standard soil profile descriptions (FAO 2006; Expert Panel on Soil and Forest Soil Coordinating Centre 2006) and analysed soil samples that were mainly gathered between 2003 and 2010 from 286 Level II plots, AFSCDB.LII.2.2 contains the main soil variables of the forest floor (noted OL and OFH layers on database), the horizons of the mineral soil, and fixed depth layers noted M01, M12, M24, M48 (resp. 0–10, 10–20, 20–40, and 40–80 cm) for mineral or peat soil. Supplementing this dataset, next to the aggregated soil data, the database contains derived soil variables that were calculated from raw data, e.g. base saturation, cation exchange capacity and C:N ratios, nutrient stocks, field capacity, permanent wilting point, plant available water capacity, and the water retention parameters of the Mualem/van Genuchten model. The RETC code (RETention Curve code, van Genuchten et al. 1991), was used for separate approximations of the Mualem/van Genuchten model to the observed soil water retention data series from each sample. A table of quality code is included in the database; it permits to trace back the applied methods, the quantification limits, and the ring-test proficiency of the laboratories that produced the analytical data (König et al. 2013).

    Main features and potential use of the database
    Two aspects of the AFSCDB.LII.2.2 make it a unique database: Firstly, it applies a transnationally standardised methodology for comprehensive and quality controlled soil analyses to a large number of forest soils across Europe, and secondly, it combines this information with soil hydraulic properties related to the same dataset. On the 286 plots, 318 profiles have been dug, the database represents 2083 sampled pedogenetic horizons and 1480 fixed depth layer samples with up to 100 soil variables determined and documented from each sample. Geographical coverage of the database is well convenient, extending over 35° of latitude from North to South and over 42° of longitude from East to West (Cools and De Vos 2014). Plots cover nearly all member states of the European Union from Cyprus to Ireland and from Northern Finland to Southern Spain with a majority in Central Europe (Fig. 1).
    https://static-content.springer.com/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs13595-016-0571-4/MediaObjects/13595_2016_571_Fig1_HTML.gif
    Fig. 1
    Geographical distribution of Level II plots in the AFSCDB.LII.2.2 database
    As dominant characteristics of forest soils, the database contains the parent material, the humus type, the texture, the water retention capacity, and the availability of nutrients for forest growth. The following section provides a summarising description of these variables for the whole aggregated dataset.

    2.1 Parent material

    The most abundant soil parent material among the Level II plots is unconsolidated glacial deposits and glacial drift (27 %). It represents with unconsolidated and the eolian deposits about half of all plots considered. About 40 % of plots are based on consolidated bedrock of different origin (igneous, consolidated-clastic-sedimentary, metamorphic, and sedimentary origin: 13, 10, 9, and 6 %, respectively). Only 2 % of the plots are located on organic materials. For the remaining 12 % of the plots, the parent material is unknown.

    2.2 Humus type

    Type and rate of organic material decomposition and its incorporation into the soil varies among forests due to different soil and climatic conditions (Zanella et al. 2011). Hence, the humus type reflects the long-term development of these conditions and has a direct impact on nutrient availability. Moder is the dominant humus type on the Level II plots in the database (Fig. 2), occurring on about 30 % of the plots. It is followed by Mor (26 %) and Mull (18 %). Rare humus types in the database are Histomor (3 %), Anmoor and Amphi (1 % each). For 23 % of the plots, the humus type is not yet available but is expected to be completed in future database versions.
    https://static-content.springer.com/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs13595-016-0571-4/MediaObjects/13595_2016_571_Fig2_HTML.gif
    Fig. 2
    Humus type of the European forest soils in the database

    2.3 Texture class

    Some soil-derived properties are strongly dependent of soil texture, for example, soil porosity (Bruand and Cousin 1995), soil bulk density (De Vos et al 2005), and soil hydraulic characteristics (Saxton et al. 1986; Wösten et al. 2001; Toth et al. 2015). Depending on the fixed depth layer, this information is available for 60–80 % of the plots. “Loam” is the most frequent texture class in the topsoil till 20 cm (20 % of the plots), while “Sandy loam” is the most frequent texture class in the lower layers (20–80 cm, 18–26 %, Fig. 3). “Sandy loam” is also the second most important texture class in the upper layers (about 18 %). The texture class “sand” is more often found in the subsoil below 20 cm depth than in the top soil, but this is the case for some of the clay dominated texture classes (“clay,” “clay loam,” and “silty clay”) as well.
    https://static-content.springer.com/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs13595-016-0571-4/MediaObjects/13595_2016_571_Fig3_HTML.gif
    Fig. 3
    Relative contribution of the different texture classes in four depth layers of European forest soils in the database: assessed mineral soil layers range from 0 to 10 cm (M01), 10 to 20 cm (M12), 20 to 40 cm (M24), and 40 to 80 cm (M48)

    2.4 Plant available water

    The soil water retention functions indicate the capacity of the soil to retain water against gravitation (field capacity). The water content at field capacity (pF = 1.8) was on most plots between 25 and 35 % of the soil volume, with minimum values around 5 % and a maximum value above 70 % (Fig. 4b). Values between 10 and 52 % would be expected for Central European soils (AG Boden 2005), a range into which about 90 % of the Level II plots in the database fall. By definition, the available water content (AWC) is the difference between the water contents at field capacity (FC) and permanent wilting point (PWP, pF = 4.2). For raw calculation without gravel content correction, most plots are included on 10 and 20 % of the soil volume, ranging from 5 to 35 % for 90 % of the plots (Fig. 4c).
    https://static-content.springer.com/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs13595-016-0571-4/MediaObjects/13595_2016_571_Fig4_HTML.gif
    Fig. 4
    Frequency distribution of soil moisture at permanent wilting point (a), soil moisture at field capacity (b), and available water content (c) over all fixed depth layers on all Level II plots in the database
    The analysis of soil water retention measurements was based on a conservative approach by applying approximations of the Mualem/van Genuchen function (van Genuchten et al. 1991) to the measured data using the software RETC. The stable S-form of this function guarantees a monotonically decreasing water content with decreasing matric potential and is not sensitive to measurement errors due to its limited flexibility. Unreliable or too scarce measurement results were excluded from the analysis. The use of RETC eliminates degrees of freedom in the approximation procedure as residual water content was always set to 0 and tortuosity to 0.5. Samples for determination of soil water retention characteristics usually originated from three soil pits per plot. In many cases, one soil pit was identical to the pit for the description of the soil profile. Three samples were taken within each pit. Each soil water retention measurement series was approximated separately with the Mualem/van Genuchten function, so that up to 13 different soil water retention results were obtained from the replicate measurements within the same fixed depth layer of a plot. The soil water retention function with the plot-representative Mualem/van Genuchten approximation was selected based on its r2-value to all measurements on the plot for a given depth layer in order to derive the plot representative values.

    2.5 Nutrient stocks

    The database allowed to calculate nutrient stocks in forest floors and mineral soils which required organic layer mass, bulk density, coarse fragments, layer thickness, and soil depth in addition to the layer-based concentrations of C, N, S, and P. The nutrient stocks of these elements were quantified using the same methods as applied in De Vos et al. (2015) for SOC stock estimations. Stock of an element in the forest floor was determined for each OFH and OL layer separately as the product of organic layer mass and the concentration of the element. The sum of both layers yielded the forest floor stock of the element. For stocks in mineral soil, first, we calculated for each depth fixed layer the nutrient density (in tons of nutrient/ha/cm of soil depth) incorporating bulk density and volume of coarse fragments. Secondly, we fitted on depth by using mass-preserving spline functions (Odgers et al. 2012). And thirdly, stocks in mineral soil were determined by integrating the nutrient density values from 0 cm to the reference depths of 30 and 100 cm or to effective soil depth (e.g. lithic contact, see De Vos et al. 2015). Spline functions were used to extrapolate nutrient density values from the maximum sampling depth of 80 to 100 cm.
    The average stocks in forest floors were 23 tC ha−1, 0.93 tN ha−1, 0.052 tP ha−1, and 0.102 tS ha-1. The carbon stocks till 1 m depth (if soil was not shallower) ranged from 17 to roughly 400 tC ha−1 for 90 % of the plots, reaching over 800 t ha−1 for peat soils (Fig. 5a). Most plots stored between 50 and 150 tC ha−1. Nitrogen stocks reached values up to 35 tN ha−1, with most plots lying in the range of 0.7 to 10 tN ha−1 (Fig. 5b). Phosphorous stocks were in most cases below 3 tP ha−1, reaching a maximum value of about 11 tP ha−1 (outlier: 24 tP ha−1) (Fig. 5c). Sulphur stocks could only be calculated on about half of the plots. They typically were in the range of 0.3–2 tS ha−1, with maximum values over 8 tS ha−1 (Fig. 5d).
    https://static-content.springer.com/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs13595-016-0571-4/MediaObjects/13595_2016_571_Fig5_HTML.gif
    Fig. 5
    Frequency distribution of the Level II plots considered for a stocks of carbon, b nitrogen, cphosphorous, and d sulphur

    2.6 Reference soil group

    Despite the fact that AFSCDB.LII.2.2 covers almost all EU member states, it may not in all aspects provide representative information for European forest soils. When comparing with the Level I dataset as a geographically representative dataset for European forests, AFSCDB.LII.2.2 shows a generally similar distribution of world reference base (WRB) soil groups, but certain reference soil groups (Leptosols, Regosols, and Histosols) are underrepresented, while others (Luvisols, Podzols and Arenosols) are overrepresented in the dataset (Fig. 6).
    https://static-content.springer.com/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs13595-016-0571-4/MediaObjects/13595_2016_571_Fig6_HTML.gif
    Fig. 6
    Frequency distribution of WRB-soil groups in the AFSCDB LII 2.2 database compared to the systematic Level I grid

    2.7 Tree species repartition

    Major differences are also visible with regard to tree species: While the major tree species on the Level I grid are Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies, with Fagus sylvatica and Quercus robur being much less abundant, AFSCDB.LII.2.2 contains mostly plots with P. abies as dominant tree species, followed by P. sylvestris and F. sylvatica, that cover almost similar shares of plots. The proportion of beech is twice as high as compared to Level I (Fig. 7).
    https://static-content.springer.com/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs13595-016-0571-4/MediaObjects/13595_2016_571_Fig7_HTML.gif
    Fig. 7
    Distribution of species in the AFSCDB LII 2.2 dataset compared to Level I plots

    2.8 Representativeness of database

    Scaling up of the results obtained on Level II to the European level may be mediated using the spatially systematic soil inventory on Level I, where similar definitions are applied in less intensive monitoring campaigns, comprising a limited set of parameters. Due to the partial non-representativeness of the AFSC Level II database in spatial terms, it is in many cases not adequate to use generalising statistical deduction methods based on the whole dataset. Instead, we recommend using upscaling methods based on the covariance between Level II and Level I variables to achieve larger spatial coverage. In those cases where statistical deduction methods are necessary, it is possible to use some kind of bias correction for the AFSCDB.LII.2.2 data, if the frequency distributions of the most sensitive variables at the target scale are available.
    Reasons for the partial non-representativeness of the dataset with regard to tree species or soil type may be found in the criteria for the selection of the Level II plots (European Commission 1994). The plots had to be located in such a way that the more important forest tree species and more widespread growing conditions in the respective country were represented. The plots had to be easily accessible at all times and with limited restrictions for sampling and observations. Consequently, remote areas (such as boreal marshes, high-altitude mountains, and swamps) are underrepresented and with them those tree species and soil types that prevail in these areas. On the other hand, it was important to include forests with high vulnerability to acid deposition. Such forests usually grow on acid soils such as Podzols and Arenosols.


    2.9 Potentiality of database

    Many options are available to evaluate this database. First of all, the database provides an exhaustive set of soil variables that may be used to study relationships between different soil traits. Secondly, the large amount of chemical soil variables allows to investigate the fate and behaviour of substances drop off on the forest ecosystem (Ranger and Turpault 1999; Augustin et al. 2005; De Vries et al. 2007; Waldner et al. 2015). Thirdly, the data were obtained in a long-term monitoring programme providing time series of ecosystem variables. This offers many options for integrated evaluations of soil data with other temporal assessments on the same plots such as crown condition, foliar chemistry, or tree growth, allowing in-depth analyses with mechanistic models (e.g. van der Salm et al. 2007; Reinds et al. 2008; Jochheim et al. 2009; Mol Dijkstra et al. 2009) in order to better understand cause-effect relationships in forest processes and responses to environmental impacts (Lorenz and Fischer 2013).
    A combination of the 286 plots with other surveys conducted in the forest monitoring programme shows good overlap with long time series of variables in the surveys of crown condition, foliar analyses, tree growth, deposition, and meteorological measurements (up to 200 plots available), and even the lowest overlap (survey on continuous soil moisture measurements) provides more than 40 plots for combined analysis with the aggregated soil data (Table 1). For this survey, there are additional data available via the national institutes participating in ICP Forests. Additional options emerge since the focus of ICP Forests broadened from air pollution impact on forests to a more integrated environmental monitoring programme for forests including biodiversity and climate change aspects. Due to continuous improvements, more parameters are assessed, providing new information for the same plots. Finally, since the soil survey at Level II plots follows the same manual as for Level I plots, the database offers additional options for spatially explicit upscaling on the European scale.
    Table 1
    Number of plots with coinciding aggregated soil data in the AFSCDB.II.2.2 and forest ecosystem monitoring data series till 2010
    Year
    90
    91
    92
    93
    94
    95
    96
    97
    98
    99
    00
    01
    02
    03
    04
    05
    06
    07
    08
    09
    10
    Crown condition
    6
    20
    8
    10
    37
    128
    156
    173
    179
    172
    169
    191
    142
    163
    205
    183
    202
    223
    184
    242
    242
    Foliar analysis
    2
    4
    12
    20
    129
    69
    132
    47
    166
    35
    182
    69
    129
    37
    192
    30
    160
    59
    201
    78
    Deposition analysis
    4
    5
    17
    19
    53
    120
    146
    145
    152
    156
    158
    138
    173
    170
    187
    200
    201
    194
    209
    221
    Growth and increment
    16
    9
    16
    45
    58
    63
    34
    10
    81
    83
    11
    11
    18
    87
    92
    20
    20
    22
    159
    50
    Meteorology
    2
    3
    3
    4
    12
    43
    69
    77
    98
    103
    99
    92
    100
    111
    111
    130
    134
    129
    178
    176
    Soil solution analysis
    2
    8
    6
    7
    17
    47
    65
    81
    90
    88
    95
    82
    105
    115
    110
    127
    131
    122
    152
    155
    Ground vegetation
    19
    46
    17
    77
    67
    52
    66
    34
    77
    49
    55
    59
    40
    6
    145
    84
    Air quality
    1
    21
    21
    56
    55
    57
    40
    64
    77
    87
    144
    137
    Litterfall
    23
    30
    37
    52
    51
    81
    61
    144
    155
    Phenology
    16
    25
    37
    41
    46
    43
    46
    91
    114
    Ozone injury
    30
    32
    29
    21
    24
    33
    31
    93
    90
    Leaf area index
    95
    133
    Ground vegetation nutrients
    89
    74
    Soil water content
    1

    Structure of the database and metadata

    3.1 Database content

    The AFSCDB.LII.2.2 database contains both measurements from horizon-based sampling (up to 88 unique soil variables) and from fixed depth layer composite sampling (about 73 soil variables plus 14 variables on laboratory quality). In addition, 18 more variables describing soil water retention are related to both sampling strategies. All these variables are combined with explanatory variables like geographical location and date of sampling and analysis, so that they may be linked with other information collected on the same plots.
    On each plot, horizon-based sampling, layer based sampling, or both have been performed. Up to three profiles were classified per plot following IUSS WRB Working Group (2007). On 95 % of the profiles, between 3 and 12 horizons were described following international reference guidelines (FAO 2006) and samples were taken for laboratory analysis.
    The layer-based sampling comprises 1480 records (i.e. layers) with laboratory analyses performed on the composite samples taken at fixed depths. The median number of sampling points per plot was 24, consisting of three replicates per layer with eight subsamples each. Data availability is best for the upper 10 cm of the soil profile and is decreasing with depth. The soil variables belong to the following categories (in parentheses: numbers of available horizon-specific/layer-specific variables): horizon or layer structure and designation (31/4), parent material (3/3), soil physics (6/3), texture (6/6), hydraulic properties (10/10), groundwater (4/5), international soil classification (13/13), humus layer (1/2), stocks of chemical compounds (3/23), exchangeable cations (13/15), extractable elements (2/18), and roots (6/2). The explanatory variables refer to geographical-, plot-, and profile-related location of the measurements (23/21), date of measurements and analyses (10/10), measurement method (14/16), and statistical or ring-test-based analytical quality of the results (12/13).
    While not all of these variables are yet available for every single plot, it remains the ultimate objective of the ICP Forests community to complete and extend the dataset in coming versions of the database. The current database version is therefore available as a permanent archive via the ICP Forests programme-hosted repository. Updated versions will be added in the future.

    3.2 Derived data

    The layer-based dataset contains a number of derived soil variables such as the C:N ratio, the sum of the basic (BCE) and acid exchangeable cations (ACE), the base saturation (BS), and the cation exchange capacity (CEC). In order to allow calculations with small concentrations below the limit of quantification (LOQ), they have been replaced by half the value of the median LOQ of all labs participating in the FSCC interlaboratory ring tests (Cools et al. 200320062007; Cools and De Vos 2009). The layer-based analytical results have been recalculated to obtain one layer-specific mean value per plot for each variable. Data availability is best for the soil variables pH-CaCl2, organic carbon, and total nitrogen.
    Nutrient stocks in forest floors could be quantified for 263 out of 286 Level II plots for C and N, and on 185 and 156 plots for P and S stocks, respectively. Carbon and nitrogen stocks in mineral soils were determined for 239 level II plots (84 %), P stocks on 188 plots (66 %) and S stocks on 147 plots (52 %).
    Soil water retention characteristics (FC, AWC, and PWP) are layer representative and horizon representative. One thousand six hundred fifty-two measured pF-curves were used to derive plot-representative soil water retention functions for 353 fixed depth intervals of 103 Level II plots.

    3.3 Quality control and assurance

    A limitation of the dataset may be seen in the fact that analyses were carried out by different national laboratories in Europe instead of one central lab. Even after detailed cross-checks of every variable, it cannot be excluded that there are still inconsistencies in the database. However, extensive ring test and training activities have been carried out during the soil survey and show convincing results (König et al. 2013). Furthermore, national labs are trained and specialised in the analysis of local soil types and have high experience in the interpretation and validation of the analytical results. Layer-based data submitted from the survey year 2009 onwards are accompanied by information on quality assurance and quality control (Tables 2 and 3). The laboratory methods are provided by a detailed coding system. Information on the within-laboratory quality programme is provided together with information on the performance of the laboratory for the concerning soil analytical variable in the FSCC interlaboratory ring tests.
    Table 2
    The number and type of soil layers contained in the dataset with the “sampling and analysis at fixed depths” (SOM) information
    Code of layer
    Depth of the layer
    Mean thickness (cm)
    N° layers
    OL
    Variable
    1.7 (0.5; 4)a
    190
    OFH
    Variable
    4.1 (1; 13)a
    244
    M01
    0–10 cm
    10
    254
    M12
    10–20 cm
    10
    253
    M24
    20–40 cm
    20
    241
    M48
    40–80 cm
    40
    204
    H01
    0–10 cm
    10
    6
    H12
    10–20 cm
    10
    6
    H24
    20–40 cm
    20
    5
    H48
    40–80 cm
    40
    1
    a95 % range
    Table 3
    Number of aggregated data in the SOM dataset for the concerning variables and layers (OL, OFH, M01, M12, M24, M48) available on the 286 Level II plots contained in the AFSCDB.LII.2.2
    Forest floor
    Fixed depth
    Forest floor
    Fixed depth
    Layer/variable
    OL
    OFH
    M01
    M12
    M24
    M48
    Layer/variable
    OL
    OFH
    M01
    M12
    M24
    M48
    CLAY
    188
    190
    219
    168
    BCE
    30
    227
    246
    245
    243
    185
    SILT
    188
    190
    219
    168
    ACE
    26
    216
    242
    241
    239
    182
    SAND
    188
    190
    219
    168
    CEC
    30
    227
    246
    245
    243
    185
    BD
    195
    184
    172
    143
    BS
    30
    227
    246
    245
    243
    185
    BDEST
    27
    29
    29
    28
    EXTRAL
    124
    183
    203
    161
    157
    116
    CFMASS
    67
    62
    62
    24
    EXTRCA
    134
    229
    224
    202
    196
    143
    CFVOL
    188
    186
    171
    172
    EXTRCD
    132
    218
    228
    158
    156
    122
    ORGLAY
    183
    224
    EXTRCR
    120
    191
    204
    158
    157
    116
    PHCACL2
    59
    243
    259
    259
    245
    188
    EXTRCU
    133
    230
    246
    173
    169
    127
    PHH2O
    47
    211
    223
    218
    216
    161
    EXTRFE
    131
    203
    222
    169
    166
    124
    OC
    130
    242
    260
    259
    244
    187
    EXTRHG
    39
    49
    58
    38
    36
    36
    TON
    128
    242
    260
    259
    244
    187
    EXTRK
    134
    230
    224
    202
    196
    143
    CN
    128
    242
    259
    256
    229
    160
    EXTRMG
    134
    230
    224
    202
    196
    143
    EXCHACID
    25
    213
    237
    235
    233
    174
    EXTRMN
    133
    230
    225
    203
    198
    145
    CARBONATES
    4
    24
    34
    36
    37
    33
    EXTRNA
    107
    178
    196
    148
    146
    104
    EXCHAL
    26
    212
    242
    241
    238
    181
    EXTRNI
    121
    193
    207
    161
    160
    119
    EXCHCA
    30
    227
    246
    245
    243
    186
    EXTRP
    134
    230
    224
    203
    198
    145
    EXCHFE
    26
    212
    242
    241
    239
    182
    EXTRPB
    133
    230
    246
    172
    169
    127
    EXCHK
    30
    227
    247
    246
    244
    188
    EXTRS
    123
    172
    191
    152
    150
    106
    EXCHMG
    30
    227
    247
    246
    244
    188
    EXTRZN
    133
    230
    246
    171
    167
    125
    EXCHMN
    30
    223
    247
    246
    244
    188
    REACAL
    26
    71
    166
    165
    166
    125
    EXCHNA
    30
    227
    247
    246
    244
    188
    REACFE
    26
    71
    166
    165
    166
    125
    FREEH
    27
    218
    243
    242
    239
    182
    Variables for particle size fractions, bulk density (BD), coarse fragments (CF), the organic layer’s dry weight, pH values, organic carbon content (OC), total organic nitrogen (TON), carbonates, exchangeable cations, and extractable elements are considered in this table

    3.4 Recommendation database use

    The verification of database contents has been done as far as it was possible over years, and the remaining insecurity of the measured values is very small. However, we recommend to report singularities, i.e. unexpected relationships of single measurements that may only become visible in combined evaluations with other variables to the FSCC in order to verify the specific background of a certain measurement. This way, the database content can successively be brought to perfection and thereby profit from its use in research projects.
    A goal in the database set-up was also to enable the users to directly access the original measured values. For this reason and since there are different preferences in the aggregation of results over several layers or horizons, it was explicitly avoided to establish fixed links between horizon-based quantities and layer-based quantities. The users themselves can establish this link in the way and with the preferences they need it, based on the available information to the measured extension of horizons or sampling depths. Also, in those cases of summarising variables, where the number of missing values was high, the user should decide how to treat this based on the specific needs of the actual evaluation.

    3.5 Organisation of database

    Figure 8 shows the relationships between tables of the database and the primary keys necessary to link tables: The horizon-specific measurements (table PFH) are always linked to their respective soil profile information (PRF) and to the plot information (PLS). Independent from that, layer-based sampling results (table SOM), which were made in a plot-representative way, are directly linked to the plot describing variables in PLS. An automated link between data from both sampling strategies is not possible, though it may be constructed by the user based on assumptions on the plot representativeness of the horizons described in the soil profile. The laboratory analytical quality variables (table LQA) refer to the layer-based measurements. The pF-curve data (SWA) from different profiles on the plot were taken in the most representative horizon of the respective depth interval and are, thus, linked to layer-based variables as well as to horizon variables. The same is true for the plot-representative soil water retention variables (SWR) that are based on the most representative pF-curve for a given layer and horizon. The plot aggregated nutrient stocks (STO) are derived from layer-based variables along with profile information (e.g. effective soil depth) and relate directly to the plot information.

    https://static-content.springer.com/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs13595-016-0571-4/MediaObjects/13595_2016_571_Fig8_HTML.gif
    Fig. 8
    Relationships between the data tables in the database. Horizon-specific properties (PFH) are linked to profile descriptions (PRF) on the plots (PLS), while the plot-representative results from layer-based sampling (SOM) as well as the nutrient stock calculations (STO) relate directly to the plots (PLS). The plot-representative soil water retention properties (SWR) and the data for their derivation (SWA) relate to data from both sampling strategies. Deeper insights in the relationships between tables are available in electronic supplementary material format



    3.6 Metadata

    Metadata to the whole database are given at https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/apps/georchestra/?uuid=153e599e-6624-4e2b-b862-8124386ea9cd&hl=eng. The metadata file includes several tables: (1) a documentation on data provision and discovery, (2) information on the origin and context of the database, and (3) a technical documentation of the meaning of all variable names (short explanations) with automated links to their occurrence in the data table headlines and vice versa. Next to this, the eight soil data tables (PLS, PRF, PFH, SOM, STO, SWA, SWR, and LQA) are followed by 28 key code tables that provide a list of those values that coded variables may exhibit (e.g. altitude is classified as a coded variable exhibiting 51 possible values). Wherever the name of a coded variable appears, the key code tables are accessible via automated links.
    Additional supplementary material comprises (1) a complete list of the tables in the database and the data format of their variables, (2) an entity relationship model of the database, and (3) a data dictionary.
    The data dictionary provides the most exhaustive information on methodological aspects and original definitions of each variable at the time of measurement. It is a pdf file with automated text links to the relevant parts of most of the original manuals that were followed during the description, sampling, and analysis of the forest soils (PCC 2012; IUSS Working group WRB 20062007; FAO 2006; Expert Panel on Soil and Forest Soil Coordinating Centre 2006; Cools and De Vos 2010; AG Boden 2005; König et al. 2010). References are given to those manuals where important other information originates from (Finke et al. 2001; Munsell 1975).

    Data access and data policy

    The database is archived at the Programme Co-ordinating Centre (PCC) of ICP Forests in Eberswalde, Germany. Access to these aggregated data can be requested via the official project homepage: http://icp-forests.net. Under the menu “Plots and data - data requests” the official data request form is provided. The requesting part has to provide an abstract on the scientific purpose and approach to PCC, which will be evaluated by the ICP Forests Expert Panel on Soil and Soil Solution (e-mail: FSCC@inbo.be). A positive evaluation will usually imply the condition to invite one or more of the authors of the database to collaborate in the use of the data. For data usage in announced collaboration with the expert panel, PCC will usually provide the database within a few days (maximum 2 weeks after submission of the data request).

    5. Conclusions
    A main advantage of the database is the accessibility of detailed soil information that was sampled in a harmonised way over such a large and fragmented area as Europe. A lack of such detailed and harmonised information had been identified by several studies (Köhl et al. 2000; De Vries et al. 2007; Morvan et al. 2008; Clarke et al. 2011; Danielewska et al. 2013). A specific asset is the combination of physicochemical and structural soil variables with laborious-to-measure soil hydraulic properties, which enables the investigation of pedotransfer functions for soil hydraulic characteristics (Wösten et al. 2001; Teepe et al. 2003).
    The combination of these soil data with long-term time series of various other forest ecosystem variables measured on the same plots makes this database an interesting source of information for integrated forest ecosystem studies (Ferretti et al. 2014; De Vries et al. 2014). The comprehensive picture of processes and state variables in a forest that may be provided this way is indispensable for a quantitative understanding of ecosystem processes based on ecosystem models: Statistical models can be validated with time series over more than 10 years in most cases. The application of parameter-demanding mechanistic and dynamic ecosystem models is possible as well as the calibration or validation of non-dynamic models. Even the slow dynamics behind soil models (e.g. carbon balance models) may be validated by a combination with older data, since the data of the first soil survey that took place between 1989 and 1995 are available for 184 of the 286 plots. Every year of further assessments on each of the common plots extends these possibilities due to longer time series. It is this kind of quantitative understanding that enables forest researchers to estimate the responses of forest ecosystems to changing climate, pollution, and other conditions that may be expected for the future.
    Upscaling of results from the evaluation of AFSCDB.LII.2.2 information to the forested area of Europe is possible using the spatially representative Level I information. This enables proper upscaling approaches using e.g. tree species or soil groups as stratification criteria.
    Based on the enhanced efforts for quality control and assurance, we believe that this dataset reaches an unprecedented degree and quality of harmonisation of forest soil data. We hope this aggregated soil database will be widely used, and we encourage the users to report eventual errors or inconsistencies to the FSCC in order to improve database quality. Future updates of this aggregated soil database are also planned to include externally derived data.

    Acknowledgements

    We wish to acknowledge the ICP Forests National Focal Centres of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK for making the soil survey data available to the Programme Coordinating Centre of ICP Forests and to FSCC for analysis and evaluation at the European level. We thank all participants of the Expert Panel on Soil and Soil Solution for their active discussions and contributions in setting up the survey, the methods, and the quality control of the data. We thank Till Kirchner (PCC) and Nils König (NW-FVA) for their specific support during the preparation of this publication and beyond.
    Special acknowledgements are due to the FAO for having allowed to reproduce, in the companion data dictionary file, the whole or part of manuals: (1) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2006) IUSS Working Group WRB. World reference base for soil resources 2006. World Soil Resources Reports 103. ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/009/a0510e/a0510e00.pdf3; (2) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2007) IUSS Working Group WRB. World reference base for soil resources 2006. First update 2007. World Soil Resources Reports 103. http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/nr/images/resources/pdf_documents/wrb2007_red.pdf; and (3) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2006) Jahn, R, Blume, H-P, Asio, VB, Spaargaren, O, Schad, P, Langohr, R, Brinkman, R, Nachtergaele, FO, Krasilnikov, RP. Guidelines for Soil Description and Classification, 4th edition. ftp://ftp.fao.org/agl/agll/docs/guidel_soil_descr.pdf.

    Funding

    Financial support for the data collection was granted by the European Commission through Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 926/93, the European Commission Forest Focus Regulation (EC) No. 2152/2003, and the Life+ co-financing instrument of DG Environment, funding the project “Further Development and Implementation of an EU-level Forest Monitoring System (FutMon).”

    References










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