Finally taking soil and plant samples for the GRASS-NET project and the extension I am doing with the grazing enclosure plots. Here it the outline of the methodology for my aspects: - 5 randomly selected samples will be taken within each grazing enclosure plot, 10 within the free-range grazing plot - Samples will be taken using soil probes to ensure consistency in the top 20 cm (2 samples per randomly selected sample, 10 cm each) as most biological activity and SOM is near the surface. - Soil type of samples remain constant in all plots (Concepcion, sandy loam) - Individual samples will be put in ziplock bags and labeled immediately - Samples will be stored in laboratory’s on Cal Poly campus to ensure safety and preservation of samples - Species composition will be sampled through 1 m^2 quadrats with the probe soil sample as the center of the quadrat - Species names will be recorded and organized in field notebooks/printed field spreadsheets and inputted into an Excel sheet once returned from field.

Approved