Data from: Crop rotational diversity enhances belowground communities and functions in an agroecosystem

Biodiversity loss, an important consequence of agricultural
intensification, can lead to reductions in agroecosystem functions and
services. Increasing crop diversity through rotation may alleviate these
negative consequences by restoring positive aboveground–belowground
interactions. Positive impacts of aboveground biodiversity on belowground
communities and processes have primarily been observed in natural systems.
Here, we test for the effects of increased diversity in an agroecosystem,
where plant diversity is increased over time through crop rotation. As
crop diversity increased from one to five species, distinct soil microbial
communities were related to increases in soil aggregation, organic carbon,
total nitrogen, microbial activity and decreases in the carbon-to-nitrogen
acquiring enzyme activity ratio. This study indicates positive
biodiversity–function relationships in agroecosystems, driven by
interactions between rotational and microbial diversity. By increasing the
quantity, quality and chemical diversity of residues, high diversity
rotations can sustain soil biological communities, with positive effects
on soil organic matter and soil fertility.