Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE): Fresh Litter Chemistry

Freshly senesced leaf litter was collected during autumn in New Hampshire at the Bartlett Experimental Forest, Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, and Jeffers Brook as part of the Multiple Elementation Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE) study. Leaf litter was collected in October of 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, and 2022 at peak litterfall (i.e., mid-October) during a rain-free period. These leaf-litter samples were analyzed for nutrient concentrations for use in resorption analyses. Besides adding 2021 and 2022 to the previous version of this data package, this version includes updated values for some samples from 2009 and 2010. Some were re-run to check unusual values, and 8 samples from 2010 for which fresh litter was not collected were estimated by analyzing litter samples collected in litter traps in the same plots in that year. These additions and corrections are indicated in the comments section of the data. These leaf litter samples correspond with green foliage samples collected in late July and early August of the same years: the green foliage EDI package can be found at the following citation: Zukswert, J.M., S.D. Hong, K.E. Gonzales, C.R. See, and R.D. Yanai. 2025. Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE): Foliar Chemistry 2008-2022 in Bartlett, Hubbard Brook, and Jeffers Brook ver 4. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/ef3696a753150d0a420fd9009f73b1e9 (Accessed 2025-01-13). These data were gathered as part of the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study (HBES). The HBES is a collaborative effort at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, which is operated and maintained by the USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station.