Soil reclamation under organic management in a Mediterranean saline–sodic polder (Raša valley, Croatia)

Dataset title: Soil reclamation under organic management in a Mediterranean saline–sodic polder (Raša valley, Croatia)
DOI: 10.17632/nzgpzyggfz.1
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18347168

Associated manuscript: Tillage and amendment management in organic farm on salt-affected soils in Mediterranean polder-type agricultural land in Croatia (Manuscript authors: Igor Bogunovic et al.; submitted)

Contact: Igor Bogunović (University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture)

For questions about the dataset, experimental design, or variable definitions: [e-mail]

File included: Data_Rasa_2016-2019.xlsx — one Excel workbook containing four sheets: Physics ; Chemistry ; WSA ; Yields. The dataset is provided in long format: each row is one observation (one core/sample/plot yield), identified by year, treatment, and replicate.

Experimental design: Field experiment on calcareous saline–sodic soil in the Raša valley (Mediterranean polder-type agricultural land, Croatia), managed under organic farming during the study period.

Factors: Tillage (2 managements) - Discing: disc harrowing to ~12-14 cm (shallow tillage) and Ripper: disc harrowing (~12–14 cm) + ripping to ~30 cm (deep loosening)

Amendment (6 levels) - Control: no amendment ; G3: gypsum 3 t ha⁻¹ ; G3S1: gypsum 3 t ha⁻¹ + elemental sulphur 1 t ha⁻¹ ; G6S2: gypsum 6 t ha⁻¹ + elemental sulphur 2 t ha⁻¹ ; G3S1+OM: gypsum 3 t ha⁻¹ + sulphur 1 t ha⁻¹ + farmyard manure 40 t ha⁻¹ ; G6+OM: gypsum 6 t ha⁻¹ + farmyard manure 40 t ha⁻¹ ;

Replication (how to read “Replicate”): Yields and WSA sheets contain two plot replications per (tillage × amendment) combination (Replicate = 1–2). Physics and Chemistry contain four observations per combination (Replicate = 1–4), representing multiple cores/subsamples taken from replicated plots (see Methods in the manuscript for sampling details).

1) Sheet: Physics

Purpose: undisturbed core measurements of soil physical properties (two depths).
Columns:

Year: 2016 or 2019

Amendment: one of the six treatments listed above

Tillage: Discing or Ripper

Depth: 0–15 cm or 15–30 cm

Replicate: 1–4 (individual core observations)

WHC (% vol): water-holding capacity determined on intact cores by capillary wetting from the field-moist state (mass gain approach)

SWC (% vol): soil water content at sampling (field-moist)

BD (g cm-3): bulk density

PR (MPa): penetration resistance (field measurements)

2) Sheet: Chemistry

Purpose: topsoil chemical properties and exchange complex indicators.
Sampling depth: 0–15 cm.
Columns:

Year: 2016 or 2019

Amendment, Tillage, Replicate (1–4)

pH (KCl)

EC (dS m-1): electrical conductivity

OC (%): organic carbon

TN (%): total nitrogen

Ca2+ (%), Mg2+ (%), K+ (%): exchangeable cations expressed as percentage of the CEC

ESP (%): exchangeable sodium percentage