Prairie manure application impacts on floral abundance, plant growth, plant community structure, insect and spider community abundance and activity density in experimental plots in Ames, Iowa (2021-2022).

This dataset contains results from a two-year field experiment at Iowa State University’s Horticulture Research Station to evaluate the effects of dairy manure application on native prairie plant and insect communities. We established replicated 4 m² plots across two field types, an established tallgrass prairie and a tilled crop field, and applied four manure treatments (weekly, biweekly, once per season, and control) using liquid slurry from a local dairy farm. Plant responses were monitored through weekly measurements of mortality, ground cover, floral abundance, plant height, and visual obstruction. Insect communities were sampled biweekly using vacuum suction for foliage and flower visitors and pitfall traps for ground-dwelling arthropods. Collected insects were identified to order, with Hymenoptera and Carabidae further resolved to family or genus.