Microarthropod and nematode effects on soil nitrogen availability in fluffgrass mesocosms at the Jornada Basin LTER site, 1986-1987

This data package contains soil nitrogen measurements taken over a
12-week interval in soils treated to exclude microarthropods and
nematodes. The purpose of this study was to test if changing densities
of soil microarthropods and nematodes results in changes in soil
nitrogen availability. In 1986 and 1987, 110 fluff grass (Dasyochloa
pulchella) plants were collected from the Jornada Basin College Ranch
and transplanted into pots, which contained 5 replicates of each
treatment. The 4 treatments include 1) control, 2) NEMACUR (to exclude
nematodes), 3) chlordane (to exclude mites) and 4) NEMACUR +
Chlordane. Each was sampled 5 times during a 12-week interval after
the initial treatment. Pots were watered weekly to maintain conditions
at field capacity. Samples were taken from the rhizosphere and
analyzed for NO3(-)- N, NH4(+)-N, Inorganic-N, microbial-N, % H20, %
organic matter, root biomass, and nematode density. This study was
completed in 1987.