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3. Basic Soil Monitoring and Evaluation
6.
Next, evaluate the costs associated with sampling strategies H-K in terms of time and
resources.
7.
Evaluate strategies A-G and H-K for the following scenarios:
•
You are a producer who has received grant money. The funder requires a quantitative
evaluation and provides additional financial support for the analyses.
•
You are a producer who is trying to decide whether or not to continue a new
management activity for a second year.
8.
Finally, let’s say that you want to know the soil texture in the field. Given what you know
about the inherent vs. dynamic characteristics of soils, what might you change about where
and when you sample?
Interpretation:
This exercise was designed to show that there are many possibilities for sampling, with costs and
benefits. It is important to evaluate what the goals of sampling are so that you gain maximum
information at a cost you are willing to incur.
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