Remaining biomass of a decomposition experiment over a 171 day period

Abstract

The database contains information about remaining biomass of a decomposition experiment over a 171 day period. Litterbags of three different mesh sizes were laid on the surface of the same Argiudol soil in Buenos Aires province, Argentina, under three different levels anthropic impact: Natural grassland system (NG), Cattle grazing-Recent agriculture system (CG) and Intensive agriculture system (AG). The design was five replicates for each system/mesh size, five sampling dates until one of the replicates reached zero remaining biomass. Mesh sizes were selected to let in only part of the soil organisms: Micro: only fungi and bacteria allowed in; Meso: Miro and mesofauna allowed in; Macro: Micro,. Meso and Macrofauna allowed in. For more information see: Castro-Huerta et al. (2015), Differential contribution of soil biota groups to plant litter decomposition as mediated by soil use. PeerJ 3:e826; DOI 10.7717/peerj.826