The data file (Excel file) contains 10 tabs. Tab 1. Contains seedling data (plant height and stem basal diameter) on plants in all 12 plots. Na refers to seedlings for which data were not available (dead or considered dead at the time of measurement) Tab 2. Survival data, all seedlings, all plots at the end of the wet season. Tab 3. Data at wet season final harvest. Here, seedling data were taken from 6 plots (selected for destructive harvest, while the remaining 6 plots entered the next, fire, phase) Tab 4. Post-fire survival data for 6 plots (in the second, fire, phase) Tab 5. Data on starch and soluble sugars analysed on seedlings at wet season harvest. To obtain sufficient samples for lab analysis, root samples were pooled per species to obtain at least 2 samples per species per plot. Empty cells are missing data. Tab 6. Data at dry season (post-fire) final harvest taken from all 6 plots in phase two. Tab 7. Data on starch and soluble sugars obtained from seedlings at dry season harvest. To obtain sufficient samples for lab analysis, root samples were pooled per species to obtain at least 2 samples per species per plot. Only savanna tree functional type presented because there were no sufficient samples available for forest seedlings. Tab 8. Light intensity data Tab 9. Soil moisture data. Data presented for all plots, but in August, measurement was done at 5 random locations within plot while in November, we probed all seedling positions. Tab 10. Weather data from weather station of Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, Nyankpala.