For 3456: The Writing of the First Report - Specifications
This initial report will consist of addressing the soil moisture & permeability lab procedure (generally outlining what was done and accomplished – with a focus on the results).
Each report must contain:
Title
Introduction 20
Methods 15
Results 20
Discussion 30
Conclusion 5
References
Appendix
Title, References, Appendix (combined): 10
Numbers refer to how your report will be evaluated (out of 100).
Note that the paper does not have a page limit but they are generally between 5-10 pages. We do not want huge reports filled with fluff, you need to be concise with your writing. Use your page layout wisely (no hanging paragraphs, single figures on a page etc…) Avoid repetition of results.
TITLE - try to come up with something “crisp”, unique, and highly informative regarding the topic.
INTRODUCTION - focus on the important role of soil permeability and water retention on watershed behaviour and forest growth. Also, focus on the fact that it matters how much water remains in the watershed after it rains, and after a major drought, and how much water is actually available to trees, after each major storm. Then, introduce all the important terms, including theory (Darcy’s law, also, read Brady to pick up on some of the terms) and finally state the objectives. These objectives deal with quantifying water flow and retention parameters to soil texture, soil organic matter, compaction, and other soil properties that may be available to you from soil survey reports, in general. These relationships, in turn, can then be used to model watershed behaviour in terms of rate of infiltration, percolation, retention, watershed discharge, and amount of water available to trees at any particular time.
METHODS - focus on how the information for soil moisture content and permeability, etc., was obtained in the laboratory. Deal with your sample in terms of the measurements. Describe apparatus / equipment used, explain methods, step-by-step. Make diagrams to illustrate where applicable.
RESULTS - show a table of your individual soil sample. Please do not forget to talk about results in this section. Don’t just plop tables and graphs here, you need to introduce, refer, and talk about them.
DISCUSSION – Talk about your results. Do the results make sense for your soil type? This is a section to back up your results with a bit of research. Find some textbooks/papers that deal with soil moisture measurements and see if your soil follows similar trends.
Deal with matters of belief and trust regarding the outcome of the results: i.e., reliability, uncertainty, representativeness, appropriateness and context.
Simple questions: do the measurements obtained reflect true field situation, if yes, why; if not, what are the limitations; are there any problems associated with sampling; are the samples as you find them in the box representative of what is in the field; if so, to what extent. Do the differences among the sample reflect difference as you would observe them in the field?
What would you do to enhance reliability, in sampling, measurement, analysis, etc…?
How can the information obtained from this exercise be used in terms of watershed management (hint: consider impacts of harvesting, road construction on permeability, also consider long term effects of forest management: those actions that loosen the soil, and those that would collapse the soils)
CONCLUSIONS - what was learned about differences in soils regarding water permeability and water retention, and what are the limits imposed by procedures used to proceed with confidence.
References / Literature Cited - your readings, cited information sources. Use a scientific format for your citations.
Appendix – “raw data output”, but organized
Deadline: Report is to be submitted by Wednesday @ 4:30 for Wednesday group, and Friday @ 4:30 for Friday Group
(10% per day for late reports)