Root biomass data: Natural Enemies, Plant Diversity and Plant Community Composition

The purpose of this experiment is to determine the influences of natural enemies, including plant pathogenic fungi and insect pests, influence plant community composition, productivity, and diversity over time. The experiment is being conducted in an old field that is burned every other year. Within the old field, there are 8 blocks, and within each block there are 6 treatments: foliar fungicide, soil drench fungicide, foliar insecticide, mammal exclosure, the combination of all enemy suppression tactics (pesticides and mammal exclosure), and a nontreated control. The pesticides are applied repeatedly throughout the growing season. Within the plots, community productivity, species composition, percent cover, and pest damage are being quantified over time.