Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.9s4mw6mw6

Description of the data and file structure

We set up two trials as randomised complete block designs with four repetitions. The treatment plot size at Hirrlingen was 2 m x 5 m and, at Bettenreute, 1.35 m x 8 m, all with the longer side of the plots in sowing direction of the crop. To evaluate the growth behaviour of RAP as well as common weeds over the years, we used nondestructive vegetation surveys. In each growing season, we conducted a vegetation survey before crop harvest when RAP were in BBCH growth stages 55 – 75. For the vegetation surveys, we assessed whole treatment plots using the extended Braun-Blanquet cover-abundance scale (Wilmanns, 1998). Each species of segetal plants in each replicate of every treatment was assigned a Braun-Blanquet score. Later, we transformed the Braun-Blanquet scores into coverage (%) by using the median of the proposed percentage classes of each score for better applicability according to van der Maarel (2007). Crop cover was excluded in the surveys. To support the coverage data, we additionally conducted a biomass cut at Bettenreute one day after the vegetation survey for each RAP species, respectively, and jointly for all common weeds (in dry biomass g m ^-2). For the yield assessment at Hirrlingen in 2021 and at Bettenreute in 2023 we counted tillers of spring barley four times per plot randomly via sampling quadrats of 33 cm x 33 cm and number of grains per ear four times at five randomly chosen ears. To determine the thousand grain weight (TGW), we randomly cut 50 ears of barley four times per plot and threshed them with a laboratory thresher (Haldrup, Ilshofen, Germany). Then we counted the thousand grains for every repetition of every plot by seed counter (Pfeuffer, Kitzingen, Germany), dried those for 24 h, and weighted each sample afterwards.

Yield predictions were calculated in t ha ^-1 according to equation (1):

      yield = ((tillers x grains per ear x thousand grain weight)/1000)/100    (1)

Files and variables

File: Undersowing_rare_arable_plants_raw_data.xlsx

Description: Used raw data for the analysis of the Manuscript "Undersowing rare arable plants in cereals as a new instrument in weed management – restoration ecology meets weed science".

Sheets:

1. Site_Year of the respective survey on rare arable plants (RAP)
   • Replicate (Block 1 - 4)
   • Treatment (1 = control, 2 = RAP sown in low densities, 3 = RAP sown in high densities, 4 = topsoil translocation)
   • Plot number (not in order, just as the plots were layed out across the experimental sites)
   • Total abundance arable plant (coverage of all plants except crop for the respective plot) / RAP coverage (coverage of all RAP for the respective plot, only at Bettenreute)
   • Species / Species EPPO (Name and/or EPPO Code (https://gd.eppo.int/) of the assessed species)
   • Abundance species in perc (% coverage of the respective species, according to Braun-Blanquet and back-transformed according to van der Maarel (2007))
2. Yield -> including both sites with each one year of data
   • Site (Hirrlingen or Bettenreute)
   • Year (2021 for Hirrlingen, 2023 for Bettenreute)
   • Treatment / Replicate (s.o.)
   • Yield in t ha ^-1 ( Yield of spring barley)
3. Biomass_ Bettenreute -> Only biomass data from this site 2023
   • Biomass weed g m ^-2 (Bomass of all weed plants for the respective plot calculated in g m ^-2)
   • Biomass RAP g m ^-2 (Biomass of all RAP plants for the respective plot calculated in g m ^-2)
   • Biomass Species g m ^-2 (Biomass of all weed and RAP plants combined for the respective plot calculated in g m ^-2)

Code/software

Microsoft Excel is needed to view the data.