Effects of microarthropod exclusion and water amendments on fluffgrass rhizosphere nitrate (NO3) at the Jornada Basin LTER, 1986-1987

This data package contains data on nitrogen availability (as nitrate,
NO3-), measured with ion exchange resin bags, in fluffgrass
(Dasyochloa pulchella) rhizosphere soil from 1986-1987. This study was
conducted at the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center to test
how watering, and changing densities of soil microarthropods and
nematodes, impacts fluffgrass growth and nutrient cycling. An ion
exchange resin bag technique (Binkley 1984, Lajtha 1988) was used to
determine nitrate availability. Twenty 6 x 6 m plots were established
with a 3 m buffer between plots. Five plots were randomly assigned to
one of four treatments:1) Chlordane (to exclude microarthropods), 2)
Chlordane and water, 3) Water, and 4) Control. Ten anion exchange bags
were placed in the rhizosphere of a fluffgrass plant in each plot.
Bags were left in the field 3 months, collected, brought to the lab
and analyzed for available nitrate (NO3-) using an automated cadmium
reduction procedure. The data table contains bag collection date,
treatment, and NO3- (mg/kg) concentration. This study is complete.