Raw data of an experiment to assess the effect of plant residue quality, and diversity, applied as mulch, on soil nutrient dynamics, on soil microbial biomass, and on crop plant yield and quality.

This dataset concerns an experiment conducted in rhizotrons in 2019 at the University of Reading in UK. One barley plant was grown in each rhizotron, and mulch of diverse plant residues of about 30 cm size (the length of rhizotron surface) were applied. The purpose of the experiment was to assess the effect of quality, and diversity of plant residue mulch on soil nutrients, on soil microbial biomass, and on crop plant yield and quality. There were five different types of plant residues: i) Perennial rye grass (P) (1 plant species), ii) Smart grass (S) (6 plant species), iii) Biomix (B) (12 plant species), iv) Herbal mix (H) (17 plant species), and Wood chips (W), and there was also a Control treatment with no residues. Therefore, there were 6 different treatments in total in 5 replicates. Soil samples were collected on day 69 and on day 195 after mulch application. There is data relevant to the barley crop plants, to plant residues, and to the soil.