Foliar methane and nitrous oxide flux: patterns and drivers in temperate tree species

The dataset comprises repeated in-situ measurements of foliar and soil gas fluxes, as well as leaf and soil elemental traits, for 25 temperate tree species interplanted at a forest restoration site. Its primary purpose is to quantify species-specific foliar contributions to atmospheric methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and water vapor (H₂O) fluxes, and to explore how these fluxes relate to leaf traits, soil properties, and plant functional strategies.

The dataset contains 500 observations across 31 variables, including species identity (common and scientific names), taxonomic family, functional traits such as shade, drought, and waterlogging tolerance, and leaf type (deciduous or evergreen). Individual trees and leaves are uniquely identified, and measurements were collected across multiple seasons. Foliar variables include CH₄, N₂O, CO₂, and H₂O fluxes, as well as leaf carbon and nitrogen content, while soil variables include corresponding gas fluxes and soil carbon and nitrogen concentrations. Additionally, leaf structural traits such as specific leaf area (SLA) are included to facilitate trait-based analyses.

This dataset enables comprehensive analyses of interspecific and seasonal variation in foliar greenhouse gas exchange, the mechanistic links to microbial and physiological traits, and the contribution of temperate tree foliage to ecosystem-level greenhouse gas budgets. It provides both the breadth (25 species) and depth (multiple leaves per tree, repeated measurements across seasons) required to explore functional relationships between plant traits, environmental tolerance strategies, and foliar gas fluxes.