Roots, Rocks, and Research: a Soil Sampling Campaign in the Central Valley
Kelsey Fenn (4th year PhD candidate in the Soils and Biogeochemistry Graduate Group @ UC Davis) and her team wrapped up a massive undertaking of soil sampling for a project assessing the soil health effects of perennial cover cropping in almond orchards. Fieldwork spanned three orchards across California’s Central Valley—from Madera County in the San Joaquin Valley to Placer County in the Sacramento Valley—and resulted in the collection of 160 soil samples and over 300 plant samples. Kelsey coordinated the sampling to start when the cover crop is at peak growth. Navigating challenges like compacted tractor rows and unexpected rocks, the team relied on on-the-spot troubleshooting to successfully extract intact soil cores. With the CA winter cover cropping field season behind them, they are spending the summer processing and analyzing samples in the lab to assess key soil health indicators, including aggregate stability and plant available water capacity.