Crop and soil responses to repeated application of biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch, North Wales, UK, 2021-2024
https://doi.org/10.5285/cf557a25-78b4-49c7-9993-b32a7ed814b5
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This dataset contains a range of plant, soil, plastic and environmental measurements, which was collated over a 4-year period following a repeated field experiment. The data is to investigate the effect of biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch film application on crop (maize) and soil properties. The remaining mulch film on the soil surface of each plot was incorporated into the soil after each growing season to simulate realistic plastic input. The details can be found in the lineage field and the supporting document.
Publication date: 2026-03-02
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Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
OSGB 1936 / British National Grid
Temporal information
Temporal extent
2021-01-01 to 2024-12-31
Provenance & quality
Plant data:
- Crop growth: Measured with a measuring tape on 6 randomly selected plants per plot. Data recorded in paper notebook, then transferred to Excel file. Excel file exported as csv file.
- Leaf chlorophyll content: Measured with a SPAD meter on 6 randomly selected plants per plot. Data recorded in paper notebook, then transferred to Excel file. Excel file exported as csv file.
- Biomass: Measured for shoot and root of 6 and 4 randomly selected plants per plot, respectively. Fresh weight of each shoot and root was measured using a 2-decimal scale. Shoots were shredded and subsampled; subsamples (n=6) were weighed. All plant material was dried at 80 °C for 24h. Shoot subsamples and roots were then weighed again to determine dry weight. Data was recorded on paper sheets, then transferred to Excel, and exported as csv file.
- Elemental analysis: Dried plant material was milled, and resulting samples were analysed for C and N using a CN analyser, and for P using TXRF. Data was exported as Excel files from respective instruments, then exported as csv file.
Soil data:
- pH and electrical conductivity: Soil samples (n=3 per plot) were homogenised and analysed in a 1:2.5 soil:distilled water solution using standard electrodes. Data recorded in paper notebook, then transferred to Excel file. Excel file exported as csv file.
- Nutrients (ammonium, nitrate, DOC): Soil samples (n=3 per plot) were homogenised and analysed in a 1:5 soil:0.5 M K2SO4 solution using colorimetric analysis for ammonium and nitrate, and a TOC analyser for DOC. Data was exported as Excel files from respective instruments, then exported as csv file.
- Elemental analysis (C/N/P): Soil material was dried at 105 °C, milled, and resulting samples were analysed for C and N using a CN analyser, and for P using TXRF. Data was exported as Excel files from respective instruments, then exported as csv file.
- Moisture and temperature: Data was recorded using TDT-12 Acclima sensors buried at 10 cm soil depth. Data was recorded on datasnaps, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Microbial respiration (N2O, CO2, CH4): Samples were analysed using gas chromatography. Data was exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
Plastic data:
- FTIR spectra of plastic mulch films: Data was recorded using Cary 630 (Agilent) ATR-FTIR, exported as individual spectra csv files.
Other:
- Environmental data (precipitation, temperature): Data was recorded by weather station on site, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Crop growth: Measured with a measuring tape on 6 randomly selected plants per plot. Data recorded in paper notebook, then transferred to Excel file. Excel file exported as csv file.
- Leaf chlorophyll content: Measured with a SPAD meter on 6 randomly selected plants per plot. Data recorded in paper notebook, then transferred to Excel file. Excel file exported as csv file.
- Biomass: Measured for shoot and root of 6 and 4 randomly selected plants per plot, respectively. Fresh weight of each shoot and root was measured using a 2-decimal scale. Shoots were shredded and subsampled; subsamples (n=6) were weighed. All plant material was dried at 80 °C for 24h. Shoot subsamples and roots were then weighed again to determine dry weight. Data was recorded on paper sheets, then transferred to Excel, and exported as csv file.
- Elemental analysis: Dried plant material was milled, and resulting samples were analysed for C and N using a CN analyser, and for P using TXRF. Data was exported as Excel files from respective instruments, then exported as csv file.
Soil data:
- pH and electrical conductivity: Soil samples (n=3 per plot) were homogenised and analysed in a 1:2.5 soil:distilled water solution using standard electrodes. Data recorded in paper notebook, then transferred to Excel file. Excel file exported as csv file.
- Nutrients (ammonium, nitrate, DOC): Soil samples (n=3 per plot) were homogenised and analysed in a 1:5 soil:0.5 M K2SO4 solution using colorimetric analysis for ammonium and nitrate, and a TOC analyser for DOC. Data was exported as Excel files from respective instruments, then exported as csv file.
- Elemental analysis (C/N/P): Soil material was dried at 105 °C, milled, and resulting samples were analysed for C and N using a CN analyser, and for P using TXRF. Data was exported as Excel files from respective instruments, then exported as csv file.
- Moisture and temperature: Data was recorded using TDT-12 Acclima sensors buried at 10 cm soil depth. Data was recorded on datasnaps, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
- Microbial respiration (N2O, CO2, CH4): Samples were analysed using gas chromatography. Data was exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
Plastic data:
- FTIR spectra of plastic mulch films: Data was recorded using Cary 630 (Agilent) ATR-FTIR, exported as individual spectra csv files.
Other:
- Environmental data (precipitation, temperature): Data was recorded by weather station on site, exported as Excel file, then exported as csv file.
Licensing and constraints
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
Cite this dataset as:
Graf, M.; Chadwick, D. R.; Jones, D. L. (2026). Crop and soil responses to repeated application of biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch, North Wales, UK, 2021-2024. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/cf557a25-78b4-49c7-9993-b32a7ed814b5
Related
Correspondence/contact details
Other contacts
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Rights holder
Bangor University
Additional metadata
Funding
Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/V005871/1