Dataset used in Boeddinghaus et al. (2019) "Plant functional trait shifts explain concurrent changes in the structure and function of grassland soil microbial communities" Journal of Ecology

We investigated whether the functioning and composition of microbial communities rapidly tracks short-term changes (within three years) in abiotic soil properties, land-use intensity, plant functional traits or plant biomass properties or if microbial changes are driven by the longer-term history of the site (legacy effect). In addition, we asked whether changes in microbial soil properties and functions were best explained by direct or indirect legacy or change effects of land-use intensity or in intermediate properties, namely changes to soil pH, plant functional traits and the quantity and nutritional quality of plant biomass.