list_method_plotmarkers
| Marker | Value | Description |
| No permanent markers | 0 | No permanent markers were used |
| Underground metal | 1 | Metal pegs and washers just below the surface |
| Wooden stakes | 2 | Wooden stakes 1-5 cm proud of the surface |
| Stakes and metal | 3 | Both wooden stakes and metal pegs with washers used. Mark on the sketch map which are used at which corners. |
| Other | 4 | Other marker used, e.g. a rock. Note details in ‘Comments’ |
list_access
| Access | Value | Description |
| Closing | 9 | Loss of plot such as due to apparently permanent loss of permission. Plot closure to be recorded separately. |
| Risk Assess | 4 | Risk assessment required for plot access. This may arise, for example, due to quarrying, mining, intertidal position, or military activity. |
| Blocked | 3 | Plot access attempted, but unsuccessful, due to limitations including vegetation growth. Note reasons in ‘Comments’ |
| Limited | 2 | Plot physically accessed, and access is now limited by physical obstacles including vegetation growth. Note reasons in ‘Comments’ |
| Accessible | 1 | Plot physically found now to be accessible. |
| None | 0 | Access not assessed. Previous state assumed. |
| Unknown | -1 | Explicit absence of information on access, which remains unknown. Default value. |
list_conditions
| Conditions | Value | Description |
| See Comment | 9 | Review of comment prompted. Describe condition in “Comments”. |
| Constrained | 2 | Current or recent conditions affected completion of sampling or observation, e.g. darkness. Describe condition in “Comments”. |
| OK | 1 | Conditions did not affect completion of sampling or recording. |
| Unknown | -1 | Explicit absence of information on conditions of sampling or observation, which remain unknown. Default value. |
list_disturbance
| Disturbance | Value | Description |
| Removal | 8 | Effects of a geomorphic, including anthropogeomorphic, event leading to a new land surface by burial or excavation (≥ 50 cm, e.g. landslide, quarrying, or land fill) preventing botanical survey, and leading to permanent loss of plot. Record in log_plot required. |
| Scalping | 7 | Localised or overall soil removal ≤ 50 cm by animals or management, or soil erosion including stripping or gullying, but without loss of quadrat, and not avoided in sampling. |
| Earth | 6 | Earthy material added or disturbed, such as sediment from overbank flood, excavation by badger, winthrown-tree rootball, or from management actions such as ploughing or foot traffic, compaction, transient or permanent in time-scale of survey cycle, not preventing botanical survey, and not avoided in sampling. |
| Char | 5 | Products of burning, including charred organic material and ash, and soil disturbed following fire, not avoided in sampling. |
| Contamination | 4 | Anthropogenic material added to site, e.g. by dumping, spillage, management action involving import of mineral substances especially lime, mineral fertiliser, pesticide, or growth regulator, or specific atmospheric deposition event confirmed at this location, and not avoided in sampling. |
| Dung | 3 | Local organic material, a nutrient hotspot, such as dung or carcass, transient in time-scale of survey cycle, avoided in sampling. |
| Habitat | 2 | Habitat not recorded in quadrat, avoided in sampling. |
| Undisturbed | 1 | Disturbance assessed. No disturbance to quadrat or sampling zone. |
| None | 0 | Disturbance not assessed |
| Unknown | -1 | Explicit absence of information on disturbance, and soil sampling done. Default value. |
list_method_sampling
| Method | Value | Description |
| None | 0 | No sampling |
| Gouge < 3 cm | 1 | gouge auger < 3 cm diameter |
| Gouge ≥ 3 cm | 2 | gouge auger ≥ 3 cm diameter |
| Funnel | 3 | funnel-auger < 3 cm diameter |
| Shovel | 4 | Trowel, spade or shovel, unconstrained loose soil retrieved. |
| Unknown | –1 | Sample taken, but method explicitly unknown. Default value. |
