Growth analysis, biomass allocation, carbohydrates and nutrients dataset of tree legumes species under distinct fertilization regimes

A 2-year forest restoration plantation in Central Amazonia was studied to understand how tree legumes adjust growth, nonstructural carbohydrates to nutrient additions and limitations. Species and N-fixing species effects on growth, carbohydrates and nutrient variables can also evaluated through the use of the present dataset. The fertilized treatment received multiple nutrient additions with NPK formulation, lime (Ca and Mg) and FTE BR-12® with micronutrients. Unfertilized plants did not receive any addition of nutrients throughout the experiment. The relative (RGR) and absolute (AGR) growth rates in diameter (D), height (H) and biomass (Bio), shoot-to-root ratio (S:R), stem mass fraction (SMF), leaf mass fraction (LMF) and root mass fraction (RMF) was presented for the unfertilized and fertilized treatments. Carbohydrates variables presented include soluble sugars (SS) and starch concentrations in leaf (L) and root (R) tissues of unfertilized and fertilized plants. The SS-to-starch ratios of leaf (L) and root (R) tissues and shoot-to-root ratios for SS and starch were also exhibit. Data on phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) concentrations of leaves (leaf), stems (stem) and roots (root), nitrogen-to-phosphorus (N:P) and carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios was presented for the fertilized treatment. Six species of the Fabaceae family were selected for data collection, three non-fixing Cenostigma tocantinum, Senna reticulata and Dipteryx odorata and three N-fixing Clitoria fairchildiana, Inga edulis and Acacia sp. The six studied species increased growth rates with nutrient additions. Most individuals increased biomass allocation to roots under nutrient limitations. Fertilized plants increased shoot biomass and carbohydrates allocation. Through adjusting carbohydrates and biomass allocation unfertilized Acacia was more resistant to nutrient stress. The present study highlights the importance of considering species effects to improve global vegetation responses models. The author encourages the use of this dataset for further meta-analysis that consider the fertilization, species or N-fixers effects.