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.