Data from: Aboveground–belowground decoupling buffers soil organic carbon against plant functional-group loss in subalpine meadow

This dataset supports the findings of a study investigating how plant functional group loss affects soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions in a subalpine meadow on the eastern Tibetan Plateau. A 10‑year plant functional group removal experiment was designed to determine the responses of aboveground biomass (AGB), belowground biomass (BGB), bulk SOC, labile carbon fractions (microbial biomass carbon, particulate organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and macroaggregate‑associated carbon), and stable carbon fractions (mineral‑associated organic carbon, glomalin‑related soil protein, microaggregate‑associated carbon, and clay+silt‑associated carbon). Data were collected from treatments with complete and partial vegetation removal. The dataset includes raw measurement data and post‑processed data used for structural equation modeling (SEM). All data files are provided in .xlsx format, accompanied by a README file explaining variable names, units, and experimental design. The data can be used to reproduce the main figures and statistical analyses in the related paper.