LBA-ECO ND-11: Forest Soil Nitrate and Structure After Logging

Soil nitrate content and physical properties were measured for one year following reduced impact logging in a 1,400-hectare block of the Brazilian Amazon. The dataset includes samples from nine logging gaps and nine undisturbed forest patches, collected to depths of 8 meters. Results quantify subsoil nitrate accumulation to test the effects of nitrogen loss from logging debris.

Use Cases

• Comparing subsoil nitrate levels between logged gaps and undisturbed primary forest.
• Analyzing the relationship between soil texture, bulk density, and nitrate content.
• Modeling nitrogen cycling and loss following reduced impact logging events.
• Assessing local-scale soil variability within a stratified sampling design.

Strengths

• Sampling design accounts for local variability with stratified random selection.
• Includes deep soil profile data, with core samples to 8 meters.
• Directly compares two land conditions: nine single-tree gaps and nine undisturbed forest areas.

Limitations

• Metadata completeness is low; specific column names and row counts are not provided.
• Temporal coverage is limited to a single year of sampling post-logging.
• Conflicting last-updated dates exist between platforms (2005 vs. 2026), creating uncertainty about data currency.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Soil samples were collected from randomly selected, stratified locations within a logging concession.

Time Range

2004-2005

Freshness

2026-04-10 (from datagov), but an older date (2005-08-18) suggests the core data is historical.

Geography

Fazenda Rohsamar, municipality of Juruena, northwestern Mato Grosso, Brazil