Oak litter decomposition parameters across 19 Nutrient Network grassland sites in response to NPK and herbivore exclusion treatments

These data are from a study examining how herbivory and nutrient supply affect long-term aboveground decomposition. A novel oak litter was decomposed across 19 grassland sites of the Nutrient Network distributed experiment. At each site, a full-factorial experiment of combined nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium plus micronutrients ('control' or 'NPK') and mammalian herbivore exclusion ('fencing') was carried out in a randomized block design. The duration of the decomposition experiment varied by site but litter bags were harvested at approximately annual intervals for up to seven years. Litter decay parameters were calculated using four alternative statistical models of litter decomposition. Covariate data describing site and plot-level abiotic and biotic characteristics were also measured, including climate, atmospheric nitrogen deposition, live and dead aboveground biomass, and percent cover.