Dataset: Mixed plantations enhance soil aggregation and carbon storage: A global meta-analysis
Description
Afforestation is considered an important means for mitigating global warming by effectively sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide. Multispecies plantations may enhancing soil carbon (C) storage more efficiently than monoculture plantations. Soil aggregation is crucial for improving soil structural stability and facilitating C sequestration within terrestrial ecosystems. But the specific mechanisms elucidating soil aggregates and soil C dynamics respond to mixed plantations are not fully understood. We conducted a comprehensive global dataset by searching all peer-reviewed articles that reported the effects of species mixture on soil aggregation and aggregate C using the Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases until April 2023. Moreover, considering the importance of soil microbes in C dynamics, we also gathered reports on microbial community responses to enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of species mixing driving soil aggregation. The "data1" sheet of the Excel file named "dataset_S1_Li et al.xlsx" displays the impact of species mixing on soil aggregates and aggregate C, while the "data2" sheet displays microbial data that matches soil aggregate data for correlation analysis The Excel table with the file name "dataset_S2_Li et al.xlsx" displays data on the effects of species mixing on other soil properties, soil microorganisms, and enzyme activities.