Surface soil analyses from a range of mesquite sites at Jornada Basin LTER, 1986

This data package contains data from a series of analyses of surface
soils in mesquite habitats during the early years of Jornada Basin
LTER (LTER-I and II). The objective of the study was to determine
whether there have been changes in the structure and function of the
surface (0-20cm) soil system, the zone most affected by litter
decomposition, associated with the rapid movement of mesquite
(Prosopsis glandulosa) from historical habitats (arroyo and playa
fringe) into recent habitats (grassland and dunes). The mesquite soils
were sampled at 4 habitats (playa, coppice dune, arroyo, and
grassland) in October 1986, with subsamples analyzed and incubated in
the laboratory thereafter. This data set contains analyses for
gravimetric soil moisture, pH, phosphate, total Kjeldahl nitrogen,
total phosphorus, NO3-N nitrogen mineralization, total inorganic
nitrogen, NH4 nitrogen mineralization, organic carbon, inorganic
carbon, total roots, tap roots, intermediate roots, and fine roots.
This data set is complete.