GLOBE Soil Moisture Campaign
Marcy's Soils Field Campaign Cheat Sheet

For collection of soil moisture, texture, and color data during a field campaign

A: Prepare the following items for each group:

• 4 aluminum foil soil packets, each inside a ziplock bag for each anticipated site (prelabeled)
• 1 permanent marker
• 1 cm ruler (at least 12cm long)
• 1 trowel
• 1 color book
• 1 spray bottle
• GPS Unit
• Data collection sheet for each anticipated site
• 1 Field guide/soil texture guide
• 1 bottle vinegar (optional)
• 1 pr gloves/pre student (optional)

B: Before you leave the classroom.

• Find and record the mass of each foil packet WITHOUT the plastic bag

C: At the site.

1. Select a representative area away from trees (unless you are in a forest/woodland) and buildings
2. Put on gloves
3. Remove all vegetation from a circular area about 10cm diameter
4. Use the trowel to create a 'bowl' shape and mix the top 5 cm of soil within the bowl
5. Label one of tile foil pouches with the location and 5cm
6. Fill that pouch 1/2 full of soil
7. Fold the foil pouch shut and store in the ziplock bag
8. Collect soil texture and colbr data for the remaining loose soil
9. Optional: test for free-carbonates
10. Remove all soil in the bowl down to the 8cm mark.
11. Mix the soil from 8cm-l2cm.
12. Repeat steps 5-9 for the deeper sample (label pouch as 10cm depth/same location)
13. Place remaining soil back into the hole.
14. Make a second hole about a meter away and repeat all steps

You will have 4 foil pouches and 4 sets of texture data for each location.

D: Back at school.

• As soon as possible, find and record the wet mass of each foil pouch WITHOUT the plastic bag
• Open the foil pouches and dry for 24 hours in a drying oven*
• Take each pouch out of the oven, wait 5 minutes and then find and record the dry mass
• Calculate soil moisture
• Report data to GLOBE

*Soil Water Content = (Wet mass -Dry mass) / (Dry mass-Container Mass)