LWF Soil Matrix Chemistry: Forest Soil Parameters from Swiss Monitoring

A 1994-1999 survey assessed chemical soil parameters across genetic horizons and fixed layers in Swiss forest plots. The dataset likely contains measurements from soil pits and pooled samples from Intensive-Monitoring-Plots, collected by the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL). A second survey is planned approximately 15 years later.

Use Cases

• Model soil nutrient distribution based on genetic horizon data
• Monitor long-term changes in soil chemistry based on repeated sampling from Intensive-Monitoring-Plots
• Assess spatial variability of soil parameters within heterogeneous forest plots
• Characterize parent material chemistry based on deep soil pit data

Strengths

• Data collection follows a standardized manual (ICP-Integrated-Monitoring)
• Includes samples from multiple soil pits to assess plot-level variability
• Original manual and first survey results are publicly documented with DOI citations

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Last updated 2019-01-01 00:00:00; freshness should be verified
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)

Collection Method

Soil sampling and chemical analysis according to ICP-Integrated-Monitoring manual.

Time Range

1994-1999 (first survey)

Freshness

Last updated 2019-01-01 00:00:00

Geography

Switzerland (LWF forest plots)