Elevation of MCSE Baseline Study — Research Context

This datatable is part of the Baseline Spatial Variability Study—Main Cropping System Experiment dataset.

This dataset contains the results of a spatial variability study conducted across the KBS LTER Main Site (48 ha) prior to establishment of the 1-ha treatment plots of the Main Cropping System Experiment (MCSE). During the 1988 growing season, the site was uniformly planted to a single variety of soybeans and a stratified unaligned sampling scheme was used to collect 400-600 geo-referenced samples across the site. Samples were analyzed for:

1. geomorphology (elevation, soil bulk density and texture);
2. soil chemistry (moisture, pH, inorganic N, total C and N);
3. soil biology (microbial biomass C, respiration, and population size; N mineralization potentials; nematode counts by feeding type; seed bank);
4. primary production (soybean biomass, soybean C and N).

Most soil samples (0-15 cm) were taken before crop emergence; plant biomass samples were taken at physiological maturity. Dried soil and plant samples were archived for potential future analysis.

Data in this dataset are summarized in the publication:
Robertson, G. P., K. M. Klingensmith, M. J. Klug, E. A. Paul, J. R. Crum, and B. G. Ellis. 1997. Soil resources, microbial activity, and primary production across an agricultural ecosystem. Ecological Applications 7:158-170. https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(1997)007[0158:SRMAAP]2.0.CO;2