Discover how to plan, conduct, and interpret field research with this essential new guidebook
Good field research is the driving force behind advancement in the agronomic, environmental, and soil sciences. Nevertheless, many undergraduate and graduate scientists have limited opportunity to develop hands-on experience before undertaking projects in the field. With Fieldwork Ready, Dr Sara Vero maps out the fundamental principles, methods, and management techniques that underpin this crucial practice, offering trainee researchers an accessible introduction to the world of on-site investigation.
This instructive text includes:
- Guidance on the essential aspects of environmental monitoring and soil, water, plant, and wildlife research
- Insights into the methods behind experiment planning and effective fieldwork
- Tips for team management and safety
- Explanations of how to select and correctly use soil sampling equipment
Offering new researchers a primer that is practical and easy to follow, Fieldwork Ready is the ideal starting point for all those beginning a career in the agricultural sciences.
Table of Contents:
List of Photo Contributors xi
Preface xii
Acknowledgments xiii
1 Introduction 1
What is "Fieldwork?" 1
Who Does Fieldwork? 5
Why Am I Doing this? 8
References 18
2 Types of Fieldwork 19
Experimental Design 19
Plot Experiment 19
Survey 22
Case Study 24
Monitoring 26
Sampling Design 29
Event Sampling 32
Grab Versus Composite Sampling 33
Sampling for Laboratory Studies 35
References 35
3 Preparation 37
Site Selection 37
Where Do I Need to Look? 37
Risk Assessment 40
Emergency 45
Equipment 46
Tools 46
Consumables 49
Maps, Apps, and Fieldsheets 49
Local or Regional Maps 52
Sketch Maps 52
Plot Diagrams 53
Mobile Apps 54
Field Sheets 55
Photographs 57
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 61
Vehicles 63
Weather 68
Target Conditions 68
Precipitation 69
Humidity and Temperature 70
Wind 73
Sunlight 73
Soil Conditions 73
River Conditions 75
Concluding
Remarks 76
References 76
4 Logistics 77
Communication 77
Your Team 79
The Local Community 81
Officials 82
The Buddy System 83
Checklists 85
The Importance of the "Trial Run" 85
In the Field 86
Things Go Wrong! 87
Delays 87
Errors 88
Standard Operating Procedures and Quality Control 89
Accidents 90
Vandalism, Theft, and Interference 93
Moving On 93
Taking Care of Yourself in the Field 94
Dressing for the Field 94
Hydration 99
Food 100
Toilet 101
Moving in the Outdoors 102
Fatigue 105
Personal Safety 106
Stress 107
Accommodation 109
Sample
Management 110
Packaging Samples 110
Labeling 113
Wildlife 114
A Note on Insects 115
Domestic Animals 116
Zoonoses and Biosecurity 117
References 121
5 Environmental Monitoring 123
Resolution, Precision, Accuracy, and Hysteresis 123
Monitoring Arrays: An Overview 126
Components 129
Logger-Box or Enclosure 129
The Data-Logger 129
Power 132
Power Calculation -- Example 136
Sensors 138
Air, Soil, and Water Temperature 138
Stage 139
Humidity 140
Wind Speed 140
Rain Gauges 140
Volumetric Soil Water Content 142
Matric Potential 144
Step-by-Step Installation 145
References 154
6 Soil Techniques 157
Soil Sampling Equipment 157
Soil Survey 157
Pore-Water Sampling 179
References 181
7 Water Techniques 182
Surface Water Sampling -- Freshwater 183
Instream Parameters 184
Stream Width and Depth 184
Physico-Chemical Parameters 186
Using a Multiparameter Probe 187
Sampling for Laboratory Analysis 190
Autosamplers 193
Sediment (Bed, Bank, and Water Column) 196
Groundwater Sampling 203
Microbial and Sterile Sampling 208
Soil and Sediments 209
Water 209
Sample Preservation 210
References 211
8 Plants 213
Finding a Slope 213
Randomizing Plots 214
Marking
Field Plots 214
Applying Treatment to Field Plots 216
Phenology 219
Wheat 220
Corn 221
Perennial Forage Grasses 222
Soybeans 223
Vegetation Sampling 224
Root Sampling 231
Plant Height 232
Yield 235
Forage Crops 235
Grain Crops 238
References 239
9 Animal Techniques 242
Live-Catch Trapping 242
Use of Trail Cameras 247
References 249
About the Author :
Sara E. Vero is a lecturer in agricultural science at Waterford Institute of Technology, in Waterford, Ireland, with a background in soil physics, chemistry, water quality, and sustainability.
