The Impact of Soil Sieving on the Temperature Sensitivity of Microbial Decomposition of Forest Soil Organic Matter in the Northeast Tibetan Plateau
Description
This dataset supports a study on the influence of forest soil structure on the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of soil respiration in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. It includes data from natural and planted forests in the Qilian Mountains and Gannan Plateau regions. The dataset comprises two CSV files: (1) Soil physicochemical properties, including aggregate stability indices (MWD), porosity, and carbon/nitrogen contents; and (2) Soil respiration rates measured during laboratory incubation (5-35°C), along with calculated Q10 values. For detailed variable definitions and methodological notes, please refer to the "ReadMe.txt" file included in the file list.
Files
Steps to reproduce
1. Soil Physicochemical Properties Analysis Sampling: At each site, 8 soil samples were collected (4 replicates × 2 depths). Porosity: Total, non-capillary, and capillary porosity were determined using the ring knife method. pH and EC: Soil pH and Electrical Conductivity (EC) were measured using an acidimeter (phs-3e, Shanghai INESA) and a conductivity meter (DDSJ-308A, Shanghai INESA), respectively. The water-to-soil ratios used were 1:2.5 for pH and 1:5 for EC. C and N: Total Carbon (TC) and Total Nitrogen (TN) were quantified using a CN 802 Carbon Nitrogen Analyzer (VELP Scientifica, Italy). The C/N ratio was calculated based on these measurements. 2. Soil Respiration and Temperature Sensitivity (Q10) Measurement Sample Preparation: Distilled water was added to soil samples in PMMA jars to maintain moisture at water holding capacity (determined by the gravimetric method). Equipment: Soil respiration (Rs) temperature responses were measured using the PRI-ECO 8800 system (Beijing PRI-ECO Technology Co., Ltd.). PMMA jars were semi-submerged in an organic solution bath for precise temperature control. Temperature Protocol: Measurements were conducted on Day 1 and repeated on Day 33 after incubation. Cooling Phase: Temperature decreased from 35°C to 5°C in 5°C intervals. Warming Phase: Temperature increased from 5°C to 35°C in 5°C intervals. Measurement Procedure: At each temperature step, the system stabilized for 10 minutes to ensure soil-water bath equilibrium before recording. Each Rs measurement lasted 400 seconds. Moisture Maintenance: During the temperature cycles, distilled water was supplemented at 30°C/25°C to maintain constant soil moisture.
Institutions
- Lanzhou UniversityGansu, Lanzhou