Plant Biomass And Mycorrhizal Colonization For 95 Prairie Species

A 16-week greenhouse experiment conducted prior to 1998 measured the response of 95 tallgrass prairie species to mycorrhizal fungi. The dataset includes shoot and root biomass measurements and microscopic quantification of mycorrhizal colonization. It was compiled by Kurt Reinhart from original work by Wilson & Harnett and published on figshare in 2026.

Use Cases

• Model mycorrhizal responsiveness (e.g., growth difference) using plant species taxonomy (grass vs. forb) and measured root colonization rates.
• Analyze correlations between shoot biomass and root biomass across 95 species under sterilized versus nonsterile soil treatments.
• Train classifiers to predict plant functional group (grass/forb) from traits like biomass allocation and mycorrhizal colonization levels.

Strengths

• Includes data for 95 distinct plant species (36 grasses, 59 forbs).
• Controlled 16-week greenhouse experiment with standardized soil (Chase silty clay loam) and fertilization.
• Biomass measurements (shoot and root) paired with direct microscopic examination of root colonization.

Limitations

• Very small dataset at 25.4 KB, limiting statistical power for complex modeling.
• Temporal coverage is vague ('prior to 1998') and geographically limited to a single prairie site in Kansas, USA.
• Specific column names and data structure are not provided in the input, complicating immediate analysis.

Provenance

Source

Original experiment by Wilson & Harnett (1998), data compilation by Kurt Reinhart.

Collection Method

Controlled greenhouse experiment with plants grown in pots of sterilized or nonsterile soil, followed by biomass harvest and microscopic root analysis.

Time Range

Experiment conducted prior to 1998; exact dates unknown.

Freshness

Dataset metadata last updated in 2026, but the underlying experimental data is from before 1998.

Geography

Soil collected from Konza Prairie, Manhattan, Kansas, USA; experiment presumably conducted at Kansas State University.