https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.wh70rxwzv

Description of the data and file structure

This dataset was collected as part of an experiment to investigate the effects of common agricultural management practices on the response of ground-nesting bees and associated soil and vegetation characteristics.

The experiment was conducted at the E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter, Alabama, between March 2021 and November 2022. This dataset was collected across 72 plots arranged in a randomized block design covering a variety of tillage management practices. In addition, 24 'Field Edge' plots were located on the East and Western field margins. In sum, 4,800 soil emergence trap deployments were used to monitor ground-nesting bee emergence among treatments. Soil penetrometer readings, soil moisture and texture analyses, and ground cover surveys were conducted to capture environmental variables relevant to the study.

This comprehensive dataset offers insights into the interactions between soil properties, vegetation cover, and the emergence of ground-nesting bees under different agricultural management regimes.

The dataset is provided in Excel workbooks, with data files on the first tab and corresponding legends on the second tab.

Files and variables

File: EVS_Tillage_Emergence_Trap_Collections_Data.xlsx

Description: Ground-nesting bees were sampled using soil emergence traps, which were systematically placed across treatment plots and field edges. Traps remained in place for continuous seven-day periods per sampling event.

Variables

• Round:
  • List of sequential sampling events, ranging from 1 to 50 (n=50)
• Date
  • Date that specimens were collected from emergence traps mm/dd/yyyy
• Plot
  • A unique identifier used to distinguish each of the 96 total plots from one another. Note that a three-digit number denotes the in-field experimental tillage plots, while the field edge plots range from 1 to 24.
• Treatment
  • Represents one of four experimental Treatments (Conventional Tillage, Reduced Tillage, Conservation Tillage, Field Edge)
• Columns E - AA
  • Column headers reflect the identity of unique bee species or morphospecies (n=29). Integers within rows represent abundances.

File: EVS_Tillage_Ground_Cover_Survey_Data.xlsx

Description: Vegetation surveys were conducted at regular intervals, estimating the percent cover of living vegetation, crop residue, and bare ground using quadrat sampling.

Variables

• Date
  • Date that data collection took place mm/dd/yyyy
• Round
  • List of sequential sampling events, ranging from 1-9 (n=9)
• Treatment
  • Represents one of four experimental Treatments (Conventional Tillage, Reduced Tillage, Conservation Tillage, Field Edge)
• Plot
  • A unique identifier used to distinguish each of the 96 total plots from one another. Note that a three-digit number denotes the in-field experimental tillage plots, while the field edge plots range from 1 to 24.
• Replicate
  • Corresponds to the three repeated quadrats that were visually assessed within each plot: 1, 2, 3 (n=3).
• Bare
  • For each replicate, the estimated percent of ground without living vegetation and residue, ranging from 0 to 100.
• Vegetation
  • For each replicate, the estimated percent of ground covered by living vegetation, ranging from 0 to 100.
• Residue
  • For each replicate, the estimated percent of ground covered by residue, ranging from 0 to 100.

File: EVS_Tillage_Penetrometer_Soil_Moisture.xlsx

Description: Soil moisture was measured concurrently with soil strength measurements using soil cores collected from corresponding plots.

Variables

• Date
  • Date that soil cores were collected mm/dd/yyyy
• Plot
  • A unique identifier used to distinguish each of the 96 total plots from one another. Note that a three-digit number denotes the in-field experimental tillage plots, while the field edge plots range from 1 to 24.
• Treatment
  • Represents one of four experimental Treatments (Conventional Tillage, Reduced Tillage, Conservation Tillage, Field Edge)
• Depth
  • Indicates the soil sampling depth (0–15 cm or 15–30 cm) from which the sample was collected.
• Pct_moisture
  • The calculated percentage of soil moisture from 0 to 100.

File: EVS_Tillage_Soil_Texture_Data.xlsx

Description: A subset of plots were sampled for soil particle size distribution and organic matter content using the hydrometer method and loss-on-ignition analysis.

Variables

• Date
  • Date that soil cores were collected mm/dd/yyyy
• Treatment
  • Represents one of four experimental Treatments (Conventional Tillage, Reduced Tillage, Conservation Tillage, Field Edge)
• Replicate
  • One of six replicates per treatment group. Each replicate is composed of 3 soil cores pooled for the respective plot 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (n=6) per treatment.
• Organic matter
  • For each replicate, the estimated percent of organic matter as determined by loss of ignition Analysis
• Sand
  • For each replicate, the estimated percent of sand using the hydrometer method
• Silt
  • For each replicate, the estimated percent of silt using the hydrometer method
• Clay
  • For each replicate, the estimated percent of clay using the hydrometer method

File: EVS_Tillage_Penetrometer_Cone_Index.xlsx

Description: Soil compaction was measured across three sampling events using a tractor-mounted multi-probe soil cone penetrometer (MPSCP), with readings recorded at 5 cm intervals to a depth of 50 cm.

Variables

• Date
  • Date that soil cores were collected mm/dd/yyyy
• Plot
  • A Unique identifier used to distinguish each of the 96 total plots from one another. Note that a three-digit number denotes the in-field experimental tillage plots, while the field edge plots range from 1 to 24.
• Treatment
  • Represents one of four experimental Treatments (Conventional Tillage, Reduced Tillage, Conservation Tillage, Field Edge)
• Distance
  • Designates the position of one of the five soil probes, with '0' indicating the center probe. The flanking probes are positioned at ± 22.5 cm and ± 45 cm to the left and right, respectively.
• Depth_Class
  • Ranges from 0 to 50 cm in 5 cm intervals, indicating the depth at which soil probe measurements were taken.
• Mean_Cone_Index
  • Soil strength measurement representing the mean area under the curve for cone index (AUC_C.I. ) corresponding to the probe position and its respective depth class.

Code/software

• Excel Files:
  • .xlsx/.xls: Utilized for organizing and presenting data.