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Dryad

Enemy exclusion effects on biodiversity-productivity relationship in subtropical forest experiment

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May 31, 2022 version files 59.33 KB
Jun 01, 2022 version files 48.19 KB

Abstract

This data set is described in full detail in Huang et al. (2022) Journal of Ecology XXX.

In brief, we used a large tree biodiversity experiment (BEF-China), established in 2009-2010, to test whether the application of fungicide or insecticide changes observed tree species richness effects on tree growth. We used a subset of plots in which tree species numbers ranged from 1 to 8. To these plots, a factorial split-plot treatment was added in April 2014. The new treatments (I: insecticide; F: fungicide; C: untreated control) were applied to subplots located along one side of the main plots. Each subplot contained 4 × 4 = 16
trees. We further used the central 4 × 4 trees of the main plot for additional measurements (central control subplot).

Insecticide and fungicide solutions (4 L per subplot) were sprayed over tree crowns every 4 weeks, but only on days with no or very little wind. During the rainy season, application
intervals were halved to 2 weeks to compensate for more rapid leaching. The insecticide solution contained 10 mL dimethoate (an organophosphate) and 10 mL deltamethrin (a
pyrethroid). The fungicide solution contained 8 g of mancozeb (a dithiocarbamate) and 25 mL of myclobutanil (a triazole). Control subplots were sprayed with 4 L of water.