Cover Crop and Non-crop Biomass — Biodiversity Gradient Experiment
Data in the KBS LTER core database may not be published without written permission of the lead investigator or project director Full terms of use
Cover crop and non-crop (weed) biomass prior to harvest of the Biodiversity Gradient Experiment. See the Weed Harvest protocol for sampling methodology, frequency, and processing. Data were also collected in 2002-2004 for the paper below, but are not yet included in this datatable.
For a description and analysis of this experiment, see “Smith, R. G., K. L. Gross, and G. P. Robertson. 2008. Effects of crop diversity on agroecosystem function: Crop yield response. Ecosystems 11:355-366”, available here.
This datatable is part of the Plant Biomass of the Biodiversity Gradient Experiment dataset.
The LTER Biodiversity Gradient Experiment (a.k.a. Biodiversity Experiment Plots or BExP) was a long-term study at the LTER Main Site consisting of a series of 21 different experimental treatments (B1-B21) that formed a plant species diversity gradient ranging from bare soil to single-crop rotations to multiple-crop rotations to annually fallowed fields with early successional plant communities. Plant species richness thus varied from 0 to >15 in any given 3-year rotation cycle. Treatment plots were 9.1×27.4 meters (30×90 feet) replicated in each of 4 randomized blocks (R1-R4). The experiment was established in 2000, retired after the 2019 harvest, and followed by a 2020 sorghum crop in all plots to examine residual effects.
Note
| Experiment: | Biodiversity Gradient Experiment |
| Data available from: | September 2001 to October 2011 |
| Dataset: | KBS086 |
| Datatable ID: | KBS032-004.12 |
| Core Areas | Primary Production,Populations,Disturbance |
| Repository link: | http://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/a98b8d810e39918e1a6fa68c5f81f621 |
| Personnel: |
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| Last Updated | 2024-01-09 |
| Variate | Description | Units |
|---|---|---|
| sample date | date the sample was taken | |
| plot id | plot number | |
| system | code representing the cropping system used on the plot | |
| description | description of rotation system used on the plot | |
| sample station | sample station within the plot | |
| species | species name of the plant | |
| biomass g m2 | dry weight of the biomass harvested | g/m2 |
| crop | crop planted in the year |
Data Excerpt
| sample_date | plot_id | system | description | sample_station | species | biomass_g_m2 | crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-10-17 | 105 | C | Soybean - Wheat single cover - Corn single cover | S | Unsorted grasses | 192.0 | Zea mays L. (*) |
| 2011-10-17 | 105 | C | Soybean - Wheat single cover - Corn single cover | S | Unsorted dicots (forbs) | 8.0 | Zea mays L. (*) |
| 2011-10-17 | 105 | C | Soybean - Wheat single cover - Corn single cover | N | Unsorted grasses | 65.24 | Zea mays L. (*) |
| 2011-10-17 | 105 | C | Soybean - Wheat single cover - Corn single cover | N | Unsorted dicots (forbs) | 7.88 | Zea mays L. (*) |
| 2011-10-18 | 404 | B | Soybean - Wheat mixed cover - Corn mixed cover | S | Unsorted grasses | 15.04 | Zea mays L. (*) |