Agroforestry Litter Decomposition with 15N Isotope Tracers

This dataset details a controlled experiment on decomposition and nutrient dynamics in leaf mixtures from two agroforestry species, Gliricidia sepium and Theobroma grandiflorum. It tracks carbon and nitrogen release over 96 days using 15N isotopic tracers to monitor nutrient transfer between species and soil. The data originates from the LBA-ECO project and is managed by ORNL_CLOUD.

Use Cases

• Analyzing the effect of litter mixture ratios (100:0 to 0:100) on nitrogen release rates over time.
• Investigating carbon mineralization rates for different leaf species using time-series measurements at 6, 14, 38, and 96 days.
• Tracking nitrogen transfer pathways between plant litter and soil using 15N isotopic tracer data.
• Modeling the relationship between initial C/N ratios (13 for gliricidia, 42 for cupuacu) and subsequent decomposition dynamics.
• Studying the impact of leguminous mulch on available soil nitrogen and microbial biomass nitrogen in an Oxisol.

Strengths

• Employs a stable isotope (15N) tracer method to directly track nitrogen transfer between species and soil.
• Provides time-series measurements at four specific intervals (6, 14, 38, 96 days) over a 96-day experiment.
• Uses controlled, replicated litter mixture ratios (100:0, 80:20, 50:50, 20:80, 0:100) applied at a standard dry weight of 6.64 t ha-1.
• Cross-platform presence on NASA EarthData and Data.gov indicates recognized scientific importance.

Limitations

• Column names and dataset structure (row count, file size) are not specified on any platform.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist: one source lists 2002-10-15, while others list 2026-03-13, creating uncertainty about data currency.
• The specific license is only noted as 'other-license-specified', requiring further investigation for reuse terms.

Provenance

Source

LBA-ECO project, ND-11 investigation.

Collection Method

Controlled field experiment applying 15N-enriched leaf mixtures to soil and sampling at set intervals.

Time Range

The experiment covers a 96-day period following litter application.

Freshness

2026-03-13 00:58:44.575501

Geography

Study conducted on an Oxisol, typical of tropical regions where these agroforestry systems are found.