Data from: Ecosystem openness to nitrogen and phosphorus controlled by fertilisation, mowing, and plant diversity in a grassland
Data files
Jun 02, 2026 version files 96.12 KB
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CAFE_CNP_data_Func_Ecol.xlsx
91.43 KB
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README.md
4.69 KB
Abstract
Ecosystem production and nutrient dynamics are mediated by the balance between inputs and outputs. The degree by which an ecosystem exchanges nutrients with its surrounding environment versus internal cycling within the plant-soil-microbes system is called “ecosystem openness”. In grasslands, the ecosystem openness to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is determined by the balance between N and P inputs (e.g., fertiliser) and outputs (e.g., biomass removal through harvesting or mowing). Diverse grasslands can use resources more efficiently because of variation in root systems and growth strategies among species. It remains unclear how biomass removal influences the effect of N and P input on ecosystem openness and N and P balances, and to what degree these processes are related to plant biodiversity. We assessed the effect of N and P fertiliser and mowing frequency on plant diversity over time and the consequences for ecosystem openness in a grassland ecosystem. Nitrogen fertilisation increased plant N uptake, N loss, and overall ecosystem openness. Phosphorus loss increased under high mowing frequency when no fertiliser was applied. Additionally, N fertilisation (without P fertilisation) enhanced P removal due to increased biomass production, leading to a negative P balance. Biodiversity enhanced the ability of plant communities to take up N, but the relationship between biodiversity and N and P removal varied with season, likely because of variation in plant species growth patterns and nutrient demand. Our results provide valuable insights for managing N and P flows in grassland ecosystems.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.dv41ns2d2
Description of the data and file structure
Data are from a field experiment that was initiated in November 2018, and included a nitrogen fertiliser (0 and 4 g N m-2 yr-1, equivalent to 0 and 40 kg N ha-1 yr-1), phosphorous fertiliser (0 and 1 g P m-2 yr-1, equivalent to 0 and 10 kg P kg N ha-1 yr-1) application and two levels of mowing frequencies (“low” and “high”, referring to 3-4 vs. 6-8 mowing frequencies per year, respectively). The experiment was full factorial within a randomised complete block design and had five blocks, making a total of 40 plots.
Files and variables
File 1: CAFE_CNP_data_Func_Ecol.xlsx
Description:
The variables include Shannon Biodiversity index, plant N and P content, N and P removal, d15N natural abundance in plant community, roots and soil over time and depths, plant biomass, root biomass, etc. Excel file includes three sheets for plant community, soil and roots in two depths, and soil to the depth of 15cm.
Spreadsheets
File includes three sheets:
Sheet 1: Biomass CNP that includes all shoot biomass data, diversity index, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents in plant biomass, and their stoichiometric ratios.
Sheet 2: Soil-Root data: Includes data for soil analysis and root biomass at two depths of 0-5cm and 5-15 cm.
Sheet 3: d 0-15 cm: Includes soil data from 0-15 cm depth.
Columns, abbreviations and description:
Data include columns of treatments (mowing, nitrogen and phosphorous fertilization levels), block, sampling date and number, then all measured variables that has been explained below.
The abbreviated column names:
Plot_num: Refers to plot numbers
Block: is the number of blocks, There were 5 blocks in the experimental design.
N fertilisation (g/m2): The amount of nitrogen fertiliser applied (g per m2).
P fertilisation (g/m2): The amount of phosphorus fertiliser applied (g per m2).
Nferti: Nitrogen fertilisation levels (0 and 4 g per m2) to be used for data analysis in R.
Pferti: Phosphorus fertilisation levels (o and 1 g per m2) to be used for data analysis in R.
Mowing: Mowing frequency (Low and High), Details are included in the associated publication in Journal of Functional Ecology for description of low and high levels.
NP: The combination of N and P fertilisation levels
MN: The combination of N fertiliser and mowing frequency for figure generation in R.
SampNumber: Plant sampling events, numbered for clarification and use in R.
Date: is the date that plant sampling was conducted from all plots (low mowing event).
Pooled_SampNumber: To clarify the plant biomass sampling that were pooled (high and low mowing events) as the total harvested biomass.
Shanon_DiversityIndex: Shannon-Weiner diversity index.
Plant_Biomass_gm2: The dry shoot biomass harvested in low mowing frequency events.
Pooled_Plant_Biomass_gm2: The total dry shoot biomass harvested in low and high frequency events.
C_content_gm2: The carbon content in plant biomass.
N_content_gm2: The nitrogen content in plant biomass.
P_content_gm2: The phosphorous content in plant biomass.
Pooled_Nremoval_gm2: The total amount of nitrogen that was removed (harvested) in g per m2, nitrogen content of total harvested shoot biomass.
Pooled_Premoval_gm2: The total amount of phosphorous that was removed (harvested) in g per m2, phosphorous content of total harvested shoot biomass.
d15N_Plant:d15N natural abundance in plant (‰)
Root_d15N:d15N natural abundance in roots (‰)
Soil_d15N:d15N natural abundance in soil (‰)
Pooled: Pooling two following events of high and low mowing frequency.
PlantCN: Stoichiometric ratio of carbon to nitrogen; refers to Plant C:N content.
PlantCP: Stoichiometric ratio of carbon to phosphorous; refers to Plant C:P content.
PlantNP: Stoichiometric ratio of nitrogen to phosphorous; refers to Plant N:P content.
Depth_cm: Depth of soil sampled for each soil analysis (cm).
AvN: Soil available nitrogen (g/m2)
AvP: Soil available Phosphorous (g/m2)
gm2: g per m2
NOTES:
- Cells "Null" in Shannon-diversity index have no data because one was the initial sampling for setting up the experiment in November 2018, and plants separation by species was not possible in August 2019 because plants were brown.
- Date November 2018 is the initial sampling for setting up the experiment, and has not included in the data analysis because the sampling was just before fertiliser application.