Data for: Modeling Ecosystem Services of Managed Prairie Systems: Simulating Production and Nitrate Loss

Author(s): Marissa Osterloh, Andy VanLoocke, Fernando Miguez
Abstract:

These data are measurements of plant species and nutrient composition for fertilized and unfertilized prairie ecosystems recorded at a long-term experiment (15-years) near Ames, Iowa, United States. We measured the plant species composition using a point-intercept method, recording species throughout the plot to determine overall species composition for each treatment. Additionally, we collected biomass samples and used an Organic Elementar Vario Micro Cube analyzer to determine the plant nutrient makeup of different grass species found in prairie ecosystems. These data provide insight into the make-up of prairie agro-ecosystems which can be used for further research and modeling efforts.

Funder: USDA NIFA
Award Title:
Consortium for Cultivating Human And Naturally reGenerative Enterprises: Grass2Gas
Award Number: 2020-68012-31824
Keywords:
Comparison of Biofuel-cropping Systems, agroecosystem model, nutrient content, plant diversity, prairie
Project (Abbreviated name):
G2G_Vanloocke_prairie_agroecosystem_model
Team: Grass2Gas
Geographic Location:
Measurements were conducted at the Iowa State University Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering South Reynoldson Research Farm located in Boone County, Iowa at the corner of 300th St. and Violet Ave.
Families:
Apiaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae
Species:
Andropogon gerardi, Asclepias tuberosa, Astragalus canadensis, Dalea purpurea, Echinacea purpurea, Elymus canadensis, Eryngium yuccifolium, Heliopsis helianthoides, Lespedeza capitata, Panicum virgatum, Poa pratensis, Ratibida pinnata, Schizachyrium scopa
Data Table Column Names and Descriptions
Column nameData typeUnitsColumn description
carbon percentfloatpercentThe percent carbon in the sample.
dataset plant nutrients pkeyintegerdimensionlessA unique primary key for this table.
hydrogen percentfloatpercentThe percent hydrogen in the sample.
nitrogen percentfloatpercentThe percent nitrogen in the sample.
sample namestringNAThe name of the field site (COBS) followed by the plot number, sample site 1 or 2, grass type, and sample number.
sample weightfloatmilligramWeight of the sample taken for elemental analysis.
sulfur percentfloatpercentThe percent sulfur in the sample.
common namestringNAThe common name of plants identified along a 61 m transect.
dataset plant species pkeyintegerdimensionlessA unique primary key for this table.
fertilizedstringNAThe fertilizer treatment assigned to the plot (yes or no).
hitsintegernumberThe total number of pins contacted by this species in this transect (0 - 10).
plotintegernumberThe COBS plot number sampled.
scientific namestringNAThe genus and species (when identified) of plants identified along a 61 m transect.
typestringNAPlant photosynthesis pathway.