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3.2 Soil Moisture Comparisons <br />• 2 <br />1 S <br />l <br />d <br />3 <br /> . <br />easona <br />Tren <br />s <br />. <br /> All curves, with the exception of the anomalous LBEMR plot to be <br /> discussed later, showed the same general trends (Appendix B-1 through <br /> B-17). The majority of the curves (9) showed readings at all depths <br /> equal to or exceeding 157, moisture on the first sampling date (May 4). <br />• By May 17, readings at all depths of 12 treatments reached or exceeded <br /> approximately 15°,6 moisture. After this date, all but one 5 ® curve <br />• decreased in moisture percentage. On or after June 30 and until <br /> November 4 all 5, 15 and 25 ® curves were off-scale, indicating <br /> extremely dry conditions. As stated in the first annual report <br /> (ERT 1979) these off-scale readings, as well as those below 6 to 8x <br /> moisture, are assumed by calculation to be at the wilting point for the <br /> soil and refuse material. These readings would suggest that plants were <br /> under extreme moisture stress throughout this dry period. On <br /> November 4, all but 3 plots have measurable moisture levels at 5 em. <br /> All readings were off-scale at greater depths with the exception of <br /> 4DSt4d, 4BEXN, and TBEMR. <br /> The 50 cm readings show the same decreasing tread after May 17 but <br />- in some cases more moisture is retained at this depth on some plots than <br /> others. All level plots show off-scale readings after June 30. This is <br /> also true of all 2:1 plots except the 2:1 plots nearest the 4:1 plots. <br /> The majority of 4:1 plots and the two 2:1 plots exhibit the same exten- <br /> Sion of 50 ® refuse moisture further into the su®er. <br /> The level refuse plot (LBElIR) showed abnormally high moisture <br />' levels at all depths throughout the entire sampling period, particularly <br />i.. <br /> during the hottest part of the summer when all other plots (with the <br /> exception of the indicated 4:1 and 2:1 plots) were off scale. This <br />_ anomaly was also apparent in 1978 and was attributed to trapped water in <br /> the refuse and/or unusual refuse chemical or physical characteristics. <br />- 3.2.2 Treatment Comparisons <br /> General soil moisture results in relation to aspect, slope, and <br />,. mulch are outlined below. Figures showing soil moisture trends over <br /> time are presented in Appendix B-1 through B-17. Hypotheses for the <br /> observed patterns follow. <br /> <br />13 <br />