A dataset of plant and microbial community structure after long-term grazing and mowing in a semiarid steppe

Grazing and mowing are two dominant management regimes used in grasslands.
Although many studies have focused on the effects of grazing intensity on
plant community structure, far fewer test how grazing impacts the soil
microbial community. Furthermore, the effects of long-term grazing and
mowing on plant and microbial community structure are poorly understood.
To elucidate how these management regimes affect plant and microbial
communities, we collected data from 280 quadrats in a semiarid steppe
after 12-year of grazing and mowing treatments. We measured plant species
abundance, height, coverage, plant species diversity, microbial biomass,
and microbial community composition (G+ and G− bacteria; arbuscular
mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi; G+/G− and Fungi/Bacteria). In
addition, we determined the soil’s physical and chemical properties,
including soil hardness, moisture, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, and
total phosphorus. This is a long-term and multifactorial dataset with
plant, soil, and microbial attributes which can be used to answer
questions regarding the mechanisms of sustainable grassland management in
terms of plant and microbial community structure.