Rs_data

This dataset was generated to test the overarching hypothesis that different patterns of drought (varying in intensity, duration, and frequency) and increased nitrogen (N) deposition would differentially affect the total soil respiration (Rs) and its heterotrophic (Rh) and autotrophic (Ra) fractions.

The data were gathered through a manipulative field experiment in a typical temperate steppe in northern China.

Experimental Design: A fully factorial design was established with four main treatments: 1) Control (ambient rainfall,CK), 2) Intense Early-Season Drought (ID), 3) Chronic Drought (CD), and 4) Reduced Rainfall Frequency (RF). Each drought treatment was combined with two subplots: with or without Nitrogen addition (simulating increased N deposition).

Data File Structure & Interpretation

The primary dataset is provided in a structured CSV file.

Rows: Each row represents a single measurement event for one experimental subplot at a specific date.

Key Columns & How to Interpret Them:
Year:Measurement year (e.g., "Y2019")
Date:Measurement date (e.g., "2019/6/17")
Plot: Record each measurement as a plot.
Block: Five repetitions.
Treat: The treatment combination (e.g., "NRF").
Treat_N: Drought treatment (e.g., "RF").
Treat_D: Nitrogen treatment (e.g., "N").
Rs, Rh, Ra: Flux rates in units of μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹. Interpretation: Positive values represent CO₂ efflux from soil to atmosphere.
ST (°C), SM (%): soil temperature and soil moisture. Key drivers of respiration.
Soil microbial community (nmol g dry-1 ) : Total PLFAs: total soil microbial phospholipid fatty acids, F: fungi, B: bacteria, AC: actinomycetes, AMF: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, F:B: fungi-to-bacteria ratio, GP: gram-positive bacteria, GN: gram-negative bacteria, GP:GN: gram-positive-to-gram-negative bacteria ratio
Soil enzyme activity (mg kg-1 h-1): ACP: acid phosphatase activity, BG: β-1,4-glucosidase activity.
Plant aboveground biomass (g m-2) : AGB: total aboveground biomass, GB: grass biomass, FB: forb biomass, GB:FB: grass biomass-to-forb biomass ratio
Root biomass of species (g m-2): LC_RB: root biomass of Leymus chinensis; CS_RB: root biomass of Cleistogenes squarrosa; SK_RB: root biomass of Stipa krylovii; CK_RB: root biomass of Carex korshinskyi; TS_RB: root biomass of Thalictrum squarrosum; SC_RB: root biomass of Salsola collina; TA_RB: root biomass of Teloxys aristata
Soil Biogeochemistry: TC (soil Carbon), DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon), DON (Dissolved Organic Nitrogen), IN (NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N).