LTER Data Catalog

Microbial Biomass and Respiration- Baseline Spatial Variability Study

Soil microbial biomass, respiration and counts were analyzed in soil cores taken from an array of spatially referenced points prior to the start of the Main Cropping System Experiment. 

The standard data use policy applies to the this dataset

Context:

A spatial variability study conducted across the LTER main site area (45 ha) at KBS prior to dividing the site into 1-ha experimental plots. During the 1988 growing season a stratified unaligned sampling scheme was used to collect 400-600 geo-referenced samples across the site (uniformly planted to a single variety of soybeans) for:

  1. geomorphological characteristics (microtopography, soil horizon depths, bulk density, texture);
  2. soil chemical characteristics (pH, NO3, NH4, total C, total N, moisture, inorganic P, trace metals);
  3. soil biological characteristics (N mineralization potentials, microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N, fungal/bacterial ratios, nematodes and other soil invertebrates; seed bank size);
  4. plant weed species abundance, weed biomass at peak standing crop); and
  5. insect characteristics (major pest and predator species).

Most soil samples were taken before crop emergence, plant phenology samples were taken throughout the growing season, biomass samples were taken at physiological maturity, and insect samples were taken continuously. Dried soil and plant samples are archived for potential future analysis.

Experiment: Main Cropping System Experiment (MCSE)
Temporal Coverage: 1988-01-01 to 1988-01-01
Dataset: KBS003
Datatable ID: KBS003-004.21
Related Tables:
Personnel:
Last Updated 2010-03-23
Metadata
Variate Description Units
easting Easting of the sample location in UTM 16N meter
northing Northing of the sample location in UTM 16N meter
organisms g Organisms per gram of soil number/gram
microbial respiration microbial respiration in ng C/gram/day nanograms/gram/day
microbial biomass microbial biomass in ug C/g soil micrograms/gram
organisms m2 organisms per square meter number/metersquared
microbial respiration m2 microbial respiration in mg C per meter squared per day mg/m2
microbial biomass m2 microbial biomass in mg C per square meter milligrams/squaremeter

Data Excerpt

Easting Northing Organisms G Microbial Respiration Microbial Biomass Organisms M2 Microbial Respiration M2 Microbial Biomass M2
633981 4696121 23000000 588.8 14.69 5179999828338.62 132.5 3.31
634280 4696128 16000000 434 76.52 3599999904632.57 97.6 16.99
634081 4696127 22500000 610.1 96.71 5059999942779.54 137.3 19
633913 4696126 72000000 591 89.71 16200000762939.5 133 14.26
633914 4696128 40500000 387.2 128.08 9109999656677.25 87.1 20.75
Back to Data Catalog