Rainfall runoff water chemistry from 2 x 2 meter plots in grassland and creosotebush communities at the Jornada Basin LTER, 1988-1990

This data package contains data from natural rainfall-runoff plots
installed on lands managed by the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research
Center (CDRRC) and the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) during the
early years of Jornada Basin LTER (LTER-I and II). The purpose of this
study was to analyze dissolved chemicals in surface runoff after
precipitation events from creosotebush and grassland areas. In
addition, some plots were treated with chlordane to remove termites.
Nine hydrology runoff plots in the creosotebush sites (Larrea
tridentata) were established in 1983 and 12 black grama (Bouteloua
eriopoda) grassland runoff plots were established in 1989. Chemical
analyses began in 1988 (1989 for grassland plots). Each plot was 2 × 2
square meters and surrounded on 3 sides by a metal frame. At the lower
slope of the plot is a trough that collects the runoff for analysis.
The data set includes the date of sampling, plot IDs, volume (L) of
surface water runoff collected, and concentrations of F, Cl, NO3, SO4,
NH4, Ca, Mg, Na, K, total N, and total P in mg/L. This study was
completed in fall 1990.