Dataset for penetration resistance, aggregate stabiltiy and infiltration of biocrusts of the Caatinga, NE Brazil

This is the data set belonging to the publication of Szyja et al., 2023: Biological soil crusts decrease infiltration but increase erosion resistance in a human-disturbed tropical dry forest. A closer description of material and methods can be found within the publication. <br> All data were collected in the Caatinga dry forest, NE Brazil. <br> It contains: Raw data of the penetration resistance (measured using an electronic micro penetrometer) of wet and dry biocrusts and biocrust-free control soils (vegetation free topsoil [0-5 cm] exposed to local disturbance pressure) of two study sites of different disturbance pressure (disturbed vs. regenerating). Aggregate stability measures as: Calculated geometric mean weight diameter (GMWD) and raw data and calculated kinetic energy necessary to break biocrusts (n = 6 each) of the two investigated sites. Infiltration measurements as: Calculated sorptivity of water and ethanol, repellency index, and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of water and ethanol in biocrusts (n= 25) and control soils (n=20) of the two study sites Soil organic carbon content per sample per site (n = 50 biocrusts and only n = 25 controls due to sampling design of SOC determination).