Method

You can download the Tundra Tea Bag Experiment methods here:

Tundra_Tea_Bag_Index_Protocol_May2016 (pdf)
Tundra_Tea_Bag_Index_Protocol_May2016 (word .docx)
Tea_Bag_Index_Data_Entry_Form_Metadata (excel .xlsx)

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Timing: This experiment can run for three time intervals: three months (summer), nine months (end growing season to start growing season) and twelve months. If possible all should be carried out, but if not possible please select the most appropriate time span(s) for your site. 

NOTE: 2016 will be the last year of data collection, so if you are looking to start the experiment this year please only use the three-month time period.

Time Period

 Burial Recovery

Three Months

 Start of growing / field season End of growing / field season.

If the time between the start and end of the field season is less than three months the experiment can still be carried out.
Nine Months End of growing / field season Start of following growing / field season

As above, the timing between field seasons does not have to be exact, as long as it is recorded clearly.
Twelve Months During growing / field season Following growing / field season

Method

  1. Get in touch here and we can talk about you plans.
  2. Take an unused Lipton Green tea (EAN 87 22700 05552 5) and Rooibos tea (EAN 87 22700 18843 8) bag per replicate. See website above for more product information. Please use two replicates per experimental unit (e.g. treatment), or five replicates per site.
  3. Measure the initial weight of the tea bag (.001 g).
  4. Open a few bags and measure the bag weight without content (this is approx. 0.283 g).
  5. Mark the tea bags on the white side of the label with a permanent black marker.
  6. For each replicate, bury the two teabags in separate 8 cm-deep holes while keeping the labels visible above the soil. In shallower soil adjust the depth so tea bag is placed in the lower part of the rooting zone. Bury replicates at least 15cm apart, and further in very wet areas. Mark sites clearly.
  7. Note the date of burial, geographical position, ecotype and experimental conditions of the site (see attached metadata form).
  8. Recover the tea bags after three, nine or twelve months (see Table).
  9. Remove adhered soil particles and dry in a stove for 48h at 70°C. If your soil contained a lot of silt use the loss on ignition method.
  10. Remove what is left of the label but leave string and weigh the bags (.000 g).
  11. Send an email to haydn.thomas@ed.ac.uk containing a) dates of burial and recovery, b) initial weights, c) final weights and d) metadata form.