Poplar shelterbelt degradation plant and soil carbon dataset

This dataset comprises comprehensive measurements of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools in plant tissues (foliar, litter, and roots) and soil fractions (rhizosphere and bulk soil) across a degradation gradient in poplar shelterbelts. This study was conducted at the Experimental Center of Desert Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, in Dengkou County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northern China. Plant and soil samples were collected in July, 2025. Three poplar species (Populus popularis, Lombardy poplar, and Populus alba) were sampled at four degradation stages (undegraded, mildly degraded, moderately degraded, and severely degraded) corresponding to degradation levels 1–4. Both rhizosphere and bulk soil fractions were collected for each tree species–stage combination, with three biological replicates per treatment. Variables included: Soil carbon pools (rhizosphere and bulk soil): MBC – Microbial biomass carbon (mg/kg) SOC – Soil organic carbon (g/kg) POC – Particulate organic carbon (g/kg) EOC – Easily oxidizable organic carbon (g/kg) WSOC – Water-soluble organic carbon (mg/kg) MAOC – Mineral-associated organic carbon (g/kg) Plant tissue carbon and nitrogen (foliar, litter, and root): C and N concentrations (g/kg) and C/N ratios for each tissue type.