To RESULTS ATOLL GEOGRAPHY AND NUMBER OF SAMPLES COLLECTED BY ISLAND AND SAMPLE TYPE The islands at Bikini Atoll that were sampled as part of the NMIRS are listed in Table 2 by name and code number. Included in Table 2 are the size of the island and the numbers of samples collected. The locations of the major islands within the atoll are shown in Fig. 2. Bikini and Eneu Islands make up “about 50% of the atoll land area; over 70% of the land area is accounted for if Nam and Enidrik Istands included. are Although Enidrik is the third largest island at the atoll, it has not been a residence island, perhaps because it is subject to severe storm conditions. Beach rubble is found half way across the istand, and the native vegetation is stunted, nutrient deficient, and unhealthy looking. Most of the other islands are rather small and/or narrow and are also subject to being awash with salt water during high-wind and high-tide situations. During the 1978 survey, 134 soil profiles were collected at islands other than Bikini and Eneu; these profiles consist of a total of 792 soil samples. Generally, more samples were taken at larger islands than at smaller islands. Over the years, we have collected a total of 456 soil profiles at Bikini. and Eneu Islands; these profiles comprise 2538 soil samples. Only two islands other than Bikini and Eneu have edible food crops and in both cases (Aerokojlol and Jelete) coconut is the available food. Extensive sampling of vegetation has been carried out at Bikini and Eneu Islands. COMPOSITION OF ATOLL SOIL The composition of coral soil for two soil profiles from Bikini Island and one soil profile from Eneu Island is listed in Table 3. The coral soil is comprised mostly of CaCO3, with some MgCO3, and essentially no clay. is high, ranging from 7.7 to 9.0. matter (as much as 14%), although The pH The surface horizons are high in organic the organic matter in the soils drops markedly with depth in the soil column. As a result, most of the natura! nutrient and water-retention capacity of the soil is confined to the top 25 to 40 cm of the soil column. IN0031b