Playa selection and characterization
We consulted the Jornada Basin landform map and available aerial
imagery to choose 30 out of 99 potential playas that encompassed a
broad range of sizes, catchment characteristics, and proximities
to different geological features. The perimeter of each playa was
ground-truthed using a Trimble Geo 7X handheld GPS (Trimble
Navigation Limited, Sunnyvale, CA).
Sampling and laboratory analyses
In each study playa, we collected 36 soil samples of 100 g each
using a 70 mm diameter one‐piece hand auger (Forestry Suppliers
Inc., Jackson, MS). The soil samples were collected from nine
locations along two perpendicular transect lines to account for a
topographic gradient from the edge of the playa to the center of
the playa. At each of the nine locations, one sample was collected
at four depths (0–10 cm, 10–30 cm, 30–60 cm, 60–100 cm). Each soil
sample was dried at 105°C for 24 h, homogenized, sieved through
2 mm mesh screen, and frozen before analysis.
We measured soil organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations
using elemental combustion analysis. We first ground homogenized
soil subsamples using a ball mill. We then prepared 45 mg of
ground soil samples in silver tins. We acid fumigated the soils to
eradicate inorganic. Lastly, we sealed each fumigated sample and
combusted them to estimate organic carbon (g C/g soil) and total
nitrogen (g N/g soil) in each soil sample using an ECS 4010
elemental analyzer (Costech Analytical Technologies, Valencia, CA,
USA). We also estimated soil bulk density (g/m^3) from three
locations at each sample depth for all 30 playas using the core
volume sampling method. Using bulk density measurements for each
depth range (m), we converted each soil measurement (g/g) to
calculate concentrations of organic carbon and nitrogen per unit
area (g/m^2).
Full details on methods and associated analyses are available in
the publication by McKenna and Sala (2016).
Related data packages
knb-lter-jrn.210420002 - Chloride ion concentration in a subset of
these playas used to calculate groundwater recharge rate.
There are also some upland soil datasets in the paper associated
with this dataset (below) that are available on request from the
JRN data manager (datamanager.jrn.lter@gmail.com).
References
McKenna, Owen P., and Osvaldo E. Sala. "Biophysical controls
over concentration and de pth distribution of soil organic carbon
and nitrogen in desert playas." Journal of Geophysical
Research: Biogeosciences 121, no. 12 (2016): 3019-3029.