McCracken, M.E. et al

Carbon and nitrogen content in soils and vegetation from calcareous grassland, heathland and woodland sites in Dorset, 2017-2018

Name: Carbon and nitrogen content in soils and vegetation from calcareous grassland, heathland and woodland sites in Dorset, 2017-2018
Published: 2021-02-24
License: https://eidc.ceh.ac.uk/licences/OGL/plain

https://doi.org/10.5285/ea43c2d1-88f5-4692-a09d-0ef4d96e0f35 Cite this dataset

This dataset contains carbon and nitrogen data from soils and vegetation from 13 calcareous grassland, 13 heathland and 12 woodland sites within Dorset, UK. The sites were selected to represent a range of habitat types across a condition gradient as measured by levels of degradation from the original habitat. The original habitats were identified as being calcareous grassland, heathland or woodland from a survey conducted in the 1930s. Within each site, 15cm deep soil cores were taken and analysed for total nitrogen, total carbon and bulk density. Within the same area for each site, vegetation samples were taken from five 50cm quadrats and separated into herbacous or shrub layers before analysis for total carbon, total nitrogen and dry weight. Heathland and calcareous grassland sites were visited in summer 2017 and woodland sites were visited in summer 2018.

Publication date: 2021-02-24

Where/When

Study area
Temporal extent: 2017-05-01 to 2018-06-30

Provenance & quality

Sample squares (50m x 50m plots) were randomly assigned within the original Good survey site prior to visit, using ArcGIS. Within each sample square, four 15cm deep soil cores were taken. Two were air dried and sieved through a 2mm soil sieve, amalgamated and analysed by Lancaster Laboratories, UKCEH for total carbon and total nitrogen. Bulk density was assessed in the additional two soil samples and averaged for the site. Vegetation samples were collected from five 50cm quadrats across the sample square. All layers of vegetation were sampled where they were present. All samples were dried and weighed. Dried vegetation was sent to the Centralised Lancaster Laboratories, UKCEH for analysis. Data were collected by experienced field ecologists, the same ecologists carried out all surveys. Data are consistent and reliable. Data were recorded into the spreadsheet as recorded in the field. Data were checked for any anomalies.