Effects of microarthropod exclusion and water amendments on fluffgrass rhizosphere ammonium (NH4) at the Jornada Basin LTER, 1986-1987

This data package contains data on nitrogen availability (as ammonium,
NH4+), measured with ion exchange resin bags, in fluffgrass
(Dasyochloa pulchella) rhizosphere soil from 1986-1987. This study was
conducted at the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center to test
how watering, and changing densities of soil microarthropods and
nematodes, impacts fluffgrass growth and nutrient cycling. An ion
exchange resin bag technique (Binkley 1984, Lajtha 1988) was used to
determine ammonium availability. Twenty 6 x 6 m plots were established
with a 3 m buffer between plots. Five plots were randomly assigned to
one of four treatments:1) Chlordane (to exclude microarthropods), 2)
Chlordane and water, 3) Water, and 4) Control. Two cation exchange
bags were placed in the rhizosphere of a fluffgrass plant in each
plot. Bags were left in the field 3 months, collected, brought to the
lab and analyzed for available ammonium (NH4+) using a salicylate
procedure. The data table contains bag collection date, treatment, and
NH4+ (mg/kg) concentration. This study is complete.