Badanie procesów biodegradacji geotekstyliów z włókien naturalnych i dodatków wspomagających wegetację roślin stosowanych w inżynierii środowiska

The deposited dataset is part of the research project titled “Analysis of the process of biodegradation of geotextiles from plant fibres and additives supporting plant growth used in environmental engineering”, funded by the National Science Centre, Poland (NCN) under the PRELUDIUM programme, project no. 2021/41/N/ST10/01013 (project duration: 11.2022 – 11.2025).The main objective of the project was to determine the properties of a new type of composites produced from natural materials such as wool, jute, flax, and biochar, as well as their combinations, tested under real field conditions. Another aim was to determine the duration of their effective performance and the biodegradation process. An important aspect of the study was also the identification of biodegradation products released into the soil and the assessment of the effects of the composites on the growth and condition of selected grass species.Field observations were conducted during two growing seasons, from May 2023 to October 2024. The experimental area was located in the north-eastern part of Wrocław, within the Silesian Lowland (south-western Poland).The research was carried out on a model experimental embankment with a slope of 1:3. The experiment consisted of eleven plots arranged in a randomized block design, including two control plots and nine plots with different variants of composite mats (detailed composition of the composites is provided in the file Information – Experience Variants). The slope surface was sown with a grass mixture. Soil, plant, and composite samples were collected during each growing season, randomly from at least four points within each experimental block.The dataset is provided as a .zip archive, containing raw data from physical and/or chemical analyses of plant material, soil, and fibrous composites applied under real field conditions at the Agricultural and Hydrological Observatory Wrocław-Swojec, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences (51°07′N, 17°10′E).Each folder contains data related to a specific parameter group:Plant material – folder Plant characteristics (13 files),Soil – folder Soil characteristics (8 files),Fibre composites – folder Composite characteristics (6 files).The results were obtained from fieldwork conducted at the Agricultural and Hydrological Observatory Wrocław-Swojec, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, and subsequent laboratory analyses carried out at:Institute of Environmental Engineering, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences,Institute of Soil Science, Plant Nutrition and Environmental Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences,Institute of Engineering Sciences, University of Bielsko-Biała. Composite characteristics (folder Composite characteristics)The composite parameters were determined using the following methods:Surface mass (g∙m⁻²) was measured using an analytical balance, according to PN-EN ISO 9864:2007.Thickness (mm) was determined under pressures of 2 kPa and 20 kPa using a stationary thickness gauge, according to PN-EN ISO 9863-1:2016-09.Static puncture resistance (CBR method) (kN) was determined using a CBR apparatus, according to PN-EN ISO 12236:2007.Dynamic puncture resistance (mm) was measured using the cone drop method, according to PN-EN ISO 13433:2007.Composite samples were collected at the end of the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. In addition, the properties of reference materials, i.e. control composites before soil application, were determined to enable the assessment of changes occurring during the biodegradation process. The symbol “–” used in the dataset indicates that the condition of the composite did not allow for parameter determination in accordance with the relevant analytical standard. In such cases, the degree of biodegradation was so advanced that reliable laboratory measurements could not be performed. Soil characteristics (folder Soil characteristics)Soil parameters were determined using the following methods:Soil reaction (pH) in 1 M KCl dm⁻³ was determined potentiometrically.The total content of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) (%) in the samples was determined using the elemental analysis method with a Vario MACROcube (Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH, Germany).Available forms of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) (mg∙kg⁻¹ soil) were determined using the Egner–Riehm method.Sulphur content (S) (g∙kg⁻¹ soil) was determined using the Butters–Chenery method.Manganese content (Mn) (mg∙kg⁻¹ soil) was determined using the Rinkis method with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS; Varian model SpectrAA 220FS, Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Charlottesville, VA, USA). Plant characteristics (folder Plant characteristics)Plant material parameters were determined using the following methods:Fresh mass of aboveground plant parts (g) was measured immediately after sampling using an analytical balance.Dry mass of aboveground plant parts (g) was determined after drying the material in a laboratory oven at 70 °C to constant weight, using an analytical balance.Relative Water Content (RWC, %) of aboveground parts was calculated as the ratio of the current water content in tissues to the water content at full saturation.Root length (m) was measured using a measuring tape.Dry mass of the root system (g) was determined after drying at 70 °C to constant weight.Root Length Density (RLD, m∙m⁻³) was calculated as the total root length per unit volume of soil from which the sample was collected.Root Dry Mass Density (RDMD, g∙m⁻³) was calculated as the dry mass of roots per unit volume of soil.The chemical composition of aboveground plant parts, including N, S, P, K, and Mn, was determined as follows: N (g∙kg⁻¹) — elemental analysis using Elementar vario MACRO cube; S (g∙kg⁻¹) — Butters–Chenery method; P, K, Mn (g∙kg⁻¹) — after dry mineralization, the ash was dissolved in nitric acid. P was determined using the vanadium–molybdenum method; K by flame photometry; Mn by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).More detailed information on the materials and methods used can be found in the publications associated with this dataset.