Effects of microarthropod exclusion and water amendments on fluffgrass rhizosphere nitrate (NO3) at the Jornada Basin LTER, 1986-1987

This data package contains data on nitrogen availability (as nitrate, NO3-), measured with ion exchange resin bags, in fluffgrass (Dasyochloa pulchella) rhizosphere soil from 1986-1987. This study was conducted at the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center to test how watering, and changing densities of soil microarthropods and nematodes, impacts fluffgrass growth and nutrient cycling. An ion exchange resin bag technique (Binkley 1984, Lajtha 1988) was used to determine nitrate availability. Twenty 6 x 6 m plots were established with a 3 m buffer between plots. Five plots were randomly assigned to one of four treatments:1) Chlordane (to exclude microarthropods), 2) Chlordane and water, 3) Water, and 4) Control. Ten anion exchange bags were placed in the rhizosphere of a fluffgrass plant in each plot. Bags were left in the field 3 months, collected, brought to the lab and analyzed for available nitrate (NO3-) using an automated cadmium reduction procedure. The data table contains bag collection date, treatment, and NO3- (mg/kg) concentration. This study is complete.