Effects of microarthropod exclusion and water amendments on fluffgrass rhizosphere nitrogen mineralization potential at the Jornada Basin LTER site in 1987

This data package contains data on soil nitrogen mineralization
potential in the rhizosphere of fluffgrass (Dasyochloa pulchella)
plants from 1987. This study was conducted at the Chihuahuan Desert
Rangeland Research Center to test how watering, and changing densities
of soil microarthropods and nematodes, impacts fluffgrass growth and
nutrient cycling. Twenty 6 x 6 m plots were established with a 3 m
buffer between plots. Five plots were randomly assigned to one of four
treatments:1) Chlordane (to exclude microarthropods), 2) Chlordane and
water, 3) Water, and 4) Control. Three randomly located subsamples
were taken from each plot and consisted of the fluff grass plant, a 10
cm in diameter and 15 cm deep soil core centered on each plant.
Samples were incubated for 0, 2, 4, or 8 weeks. This data set contains
information on the incubation time, soil nitrate (NO3-), soil ammonium
(NH4+), and soil water content for each subsample. This data were
collected in May 1987 and the study is complete.