dataset_Chomeletal2022_natcom.xlsx

We quantify how grassland management modifies the transfer of recent photosynthates and soil nitrogen through plants and soil food webs during a post-drought period in a controlled field experiment, using <em>in situ</em> 13C and 15N pulse-labelling in intensively and extensively managed fields. For this we simulated summer drought using rainfall shelters on paired extensively and intensively managed mesotrophic grasslands across three geographically distinct locations in northern England with similar soils, vegetation and topographical conditions. In both control and drought plots, plant communities and soil food web (microorganisms and mesofauna) biomass and composition were determined. To simultaneously investigate the short-term allocation of N and recently assimilated C below-ground during a post-drought period, we pulse-labelled plants with 13C-CO2, and soil with 15N-NO3 at the end of the simulated drought. We traced the incorporation of 13C and 15N into plant shoot and roots, microbial biomarkers, soil mesofauna trophic groups and soil CO2 and N2O fluxes over a 20-day post-drought period.