NPP Grassland: Hays Biomass and Climate Data, 1970

1970 data from a mixed prairie grassland near Hays, Kansas, includes above- and below-ground biomass measurements at roughly two-week intervals under ungrazed and moderately grazed treatments. The dataset also contains monthly and annual climate data from a nearby weather station covering the period 1891-1994. It was collected as part of the US Grassland Biome Project of the International Biological Program across ten sites in the central and western United States.

Use Cases

• Comparing above-ground net primary production (ANPP) between grazing treatments based on peak biomass sums.
• Analyzing below-ground net primary production (BNPP) dynamics from manual root coring data.
• Correlating grassland productivity with long-term climate trends using the 1891-1994 weather station record.
• Modeling carbon storage in Great Plains ecosystems using measured biomass values.

Strengths

• Provides specific, measured productivity values: ANPP of 363-372 g/m²/year and BNPP of 855-1062 g/m²/year.
• Includes a long-term climate record (1891-1994) co-located with the ecological study site.
• Data collection followed a standardized protocol as part of a coordinated multi-site study (US Grassland Biome Project).

Limitations

• The exact column names, row counts, and file sizes are not specified in the provided metadata.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist between platforms (1994 vs. 2026), suggesting potential metadata inconsistency.
• Ecological measurements are from a single growing season (1970), limiting temporal analysis of biomass dynamics.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Biomass data collected via harvest technique and manual root coring at two-week intervals; climate data from a weather station.

Time Range

1891-1994

Freshness

2026-04-09 23:41:25.350712

Geography

Central Great Plains, Hays, Kansas, USA (38.87 N, -99.38 W, Elevation 714 m)