Soil Mineralogy Annotated Bibliography Week #6

Soil Mineralogy

Booth, M. S., Stark, J. M., & Caldwell, M. M. (2003). Inorganic N turnover and availability in annual- and perennial-dominated soils in a northern Utah shrub-steppe ecosystem. Biogeochemistry, 66(3), 311.

This study focused on the effect of the introduction of the annual grass, Bromus into Utah.  They were trying to discover how nutrient cycling may be affected.  It could affect how the soil decomposes.  This would affect the availability of inorganic N by altering the soil temperature and moisture content.   They found the introduction of the annual grass leads to higher concentrations of N which in turn increased the risk of fire.  In all of their studies, they showed an increase of N, the greatest increase being 20%.   It did depend on the time of year the sample was taken.  The increase in Nitrogen should be a huge red flag before continuing to use the Bromus annual grass.

Folkoff, M. E., & Meentemeyer, V. (1987). Climatic Control of the Geography of Clay Minerals Genesis. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 77(4), 635.

This study wanted to link climate to clay mineral formations.  They found a link in 80% of the matter they studied.  The seasonal availability of soil moisture is linked to the chemical characteristics developed.