Leaf digestibility under rainfall manipulated treatments in the C3 and C4 plant communities (South Dakota, 2020-2022)

The leaf samples were collected from a randomized block two-factor split plot experiment with two precipitation-manipulation treatments (small size frequent events, and large size infrequent events, with constant total size) and two aboveground plant communities (C3 and C4 grasses) with five replications in western South Dakota, USA. The dominated C3 grass is western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Love], and the dominated C4 grasses are buffalograss [Bouteoula dactyloides (Nutt.) J.T. Columbus] and blue gramma [Bouteoula gracilis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths]. The samples was collected within sampling quadrat by hand at the end of each month from May to September, 2020-2022, then dried immediately at 80˚C for 7 days. Dried samples were grinded into <1mm by bead beater. We used the sequential fiber analysis protocol (ANKOM Technology) and an ANKOM fiber analyzer to measure and calculate the neutral detergent fiber (NDF), the acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL) of the grinded leaf samples. The final data contained both concentration and content of different fibers in the leaf samples.