Nitrogen Cycling and Environmental Data in Riparian Soils across Biomes

This dataset compiles soil nitrogen cycle data from riparian soils, sourced from peer-reviewed studies published between 1980 and 2023. The selection process was based on three inclusion criteria: (1) studies measuring in-situ net nitrification rates in the top soil layer using the incubating bag technique, (2) studies reporting net nitrification rates from laboratory incubations without altering the initial nitrogen pool, and (3) studies providing field data on soil nitrogen concentrations, moisture, and temperature.
The final dataset (D1) includes data from 174 riparian sites across four continents, with the majority of sites (86%) located in North America and Europe, while only 13 were located in the Southern hemisphere. For each site, we gathered data on net nitrification rates and key soil physicochemical properties, including bulk density, depth, moisture (expressed as water-filled pore space, WFPS), temperature, and ammonium and nitrate concentrations. The dataset includes 734 observations from 99 field sites and 120 observations from 45 laboratory-incubated sites. All publications from which data were used are list in dataset 2 (D2). This comprehensive dataset offers valuable insights into nitrogen dynamics in riparian soils, supporting further research into soil nitrogen cycling across diverse biomes and environmental conditions.