Gains in soil C storage under anthropogenic N deposition are rapidly lost following its cessation

In the northern Hemisphere, anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition contributed to the enhancement of the global terrestrial carbon (C) sink, partially offsetting CO2 emissions. Across several long-term field experiments, this ecosystem level response was determined to be driven, in part, by the suppression of microbial activity associated with the breakdown of soil organic matter. However, since the implementation of emission abatement policies in the 1970’s, atmospheric N deposition has declined globally, and the consequences of this decline are unknown. Here, we assessed the response of soil C storage, and associated microbial activities, in a long-term field study that experimentally increased N deposition for 24-years. We measured soil C and N, microbial activity, and compared effect sizes of soil C in response to, and in recovery from, the N deposition treatment across the history of our experiment (1994-2022). Our results demonstrate that the accumulated C in the organic horizon ha..., , , # README: Gains in soil carbon storage under anthropogenic nitrogen deposition are rapidly lost following its cessation

Corresponding author: Zachary B. Freedman
E-mail: [[e-mail]](mailto:[e-mail])

The raw data submitted include the following parameters: organic horizon carbon content, organic horizon nitrogen content, mineral soil carbon content, organic horizon mass, soil respiration, and soil extracellular enzyme activity potential.

## Description of the data and file structure

All data files contain the following information:
-\"Site\": site where sample was collected from. There are 4 sites in Michigan, USA that are located:
-\"A\": 46°52'N, 88°53'W
-\"B\": 45°33'N, 84°51'W
-\"C\": 44°23'N, 85°50'W
-\"D\": 43°40'N, 86°09'W
-\"Plot\": numeric identifier given to each 30 x 30 meter plot (n = 6 per site)
-\"Treatment\": refers to the amount of nitrogen deposition at the plot-level
-\"Ambient\": plots that receive ambient atmospheric nitrogen deposition (wet + dry total deposit...