Abstract
Background and aims
Lateral tree-scale variability in plantations should be taken into account when scaling up from point samples, but appropriate methods for sampling and calculation have not been defined. Our aim was to define and evaluate such methods.
Methods
We evaluated several existing and new methods, using data for throughfall, root biomass and soil respiration in mature oil palm plantations with equilateral triangular spacing.
Results
Three ways of accounting for spatial variation within the repeating tree unit (a hexagon) were deduced. For visible patch patterns, patches can be delineated and sampled separately. For radial patterns, measurements can be made in radial transects or a triangular portion of the tree unit. For any type of pattern, including unknown patterns, a triangular sampling grid is appropriate. In the case studies examined, throughfall was 79 % of rainfall, with 95 % confidence limits being 62 and 96 % of rainfall. Root biomass and soil respiration, measured on a 35-point grid, varied by an order of magnitude. In zones with steep gradients in parameters, sampling density has a large influence on calculated mean values.
Conclusions
The methods defined here provide a basis for representative sampling and calculation procedures in studies requiring scaling up from point sampling, but more efficient methods are needed.
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful to staff of the Papua New Guinea Oil Palm Research Association, who helped carry out the field measurements, Peter Whitehead, who gave mathematical advice, New Britain Palm Oil Ltd., who allowed us access to their plantations, and two anonymous reviewers, who gave several useful suggestions. The work was funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (SMCN-2009-013) and the authors’ institutions, including CSIRO’s Sustainable Agriculture Flagship.
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Nelson, P.N., Webb, M.J., Banabas, M. et al. Methods to account for tree-scale variability in soil- and plant-related parameters in oil palm plantations. Plant Soil 374, 459–471 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1894-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-013-1894-7