Fieldwork Ready - An Introductory Guide to Field Research for Agriculture, Environment, and Soil Scientists

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.

List 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

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.

Summary

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.

Product details

• Authors: Sara Vero, Sara E Vero, Sara E. Vero, Sara Veto
• Publisher: Wiley & Sons
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 18.02.2021
• EAN: 9780891183754
• ISBN: 978-0-89118-375-4
• No. of pages: 272
• Dimensions: 177 mm x 14 mm x 253 mm
• Weight: 564 g
• Series: ACSESS Books; ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Books
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Agriculture, horticulture; forestry, fishing, food; Landwirtschaft, Agriculture, Landwirtschaft u. Ökologie, Agriculture & Ecology