Soil volumetric water content calculated from neutron hydroprobe data at 15 NPP study sites at the Jornada Basin LTER, 1989-ongoing

This data package contains soil water content data calculated from
monthly neutron hydroprobe count measurements made at 15 net primary
production (NPP) study locations on Jornada Experimental Range (JER)
and Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center (CDRRC) lands. Once a
month, neutron probe measurements are made at 10 depths (where
possible) at each of 10 access tubes at each of the 15 NPP sites using
a neutron probe (CPN Model 503DR Hydroprobe). The raw dataset, also on
EDI (knb-lter-jrn.210013001), consists of the count of thermalized
neutrons at 30 cm depth intervals to a maximum depth of 300 cm. In
this data package, the raw neutron counts have been adjusted for
radioactive decay of the neutron source, then converted to volumetric
water content (VWC) to a maximum depth of 270 cm using calibration
equations (deepest probe depths are excluded from VWC calculations).
The NPP sites these measurements are made at represent the 5 dominant
vegetation types of the Jornada Basin, which consist of 3 shrub
(creosotebush, mesquite dune, and tarbush) and 2 grass (upland
grassland and playa) types. Three NPP sites are located in each of the
types. This data collection is ongoing with new data collected monthly
(updates to the EDI package may occur less frequently). NOTE: The next update to this data package will be delayed
until calibration equations can be developed for a new hydroprobe unit
that has recently been put into service. Repair parts were no longer
available for the older unit.