This dataset contains nutrient data from soils and microbial biomass in soils from an experiment based at Winklebury Hill, UK. The experiment used seeds and plug plants to create different plant communities on the bare chalk on Winklebury Hill and tested the resulting carbon and nutrient cycling rates and compared these to the characteristics of different plant functional groups. The experiment ran from 2013 to 2016 and this dataset contains data from 2014 only. This experiment was part of the Wessex BESS project, a six-year (2011-2017) project aimed at understanding how biodiversity underpins the ecosystem functions and services that landscapes provide. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/5012d5c1-da82-4773-b286-01222595a8c8

This dataset contains moth species, parasitoid and resource provisioning data from a hedgerow experiment investigating the long-term effects of timing and frequency of cutting on resource provision for wildlife. The experiment site was based at at Monks Wood, Cambridgeshire, UK. Moth larvae were collected in May to September 2011 and reared in a laboratory. Moth larvae or adult moths, and any emerging parasitoids, were identified to species level where possible. Data on hedge plot dimensions and branching density and length were measured in the field at the same time as moth larvae sampling. Leaf samples were also collected and used to calculate biomass and determine foliar total carbon and nitrogen content. The hedgerow experiment was one of three long running hedgerow experiments focusing on management to maintain and restore the hedgerow resource under agri-environment schemes. These long running experiments were funded by Defra and managed by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/7c2bf22d-2ff6-4d06-b4c1-b74ed4b45fc1

Data are presented for soil state and environmental parameters of soil samples collected from paired intensive and extensive grassland systems, including low and high pH parent soils, from 32 sites across the United Kingdom. The samples were collected during winter and spring 2015-2016 by project staff experienced in soil core collection. Samples were subdivided for subsequent analysis of total Nitrogen, total Carbon, total organic Carbon, total Phosphorus, soil pH, soil moisture, loss on ignition, sand, silt, clay texture, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra and bulk density. The data were collected to help understand soil functional change in a variety of management and climatic scenarios as part of NERC U-GRASS (Understanding and enhancing soil ecosystem services and resilience in UK grass and croplands) award (NERC Reference NE/M017125/1) part of the NERC Soil Security Programme. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/2a817dbf-097f-45b4-85bd-745f4e78e656

This dataset contains nitrogen data from nitrate, ammonium and nitrite, total nitrogen and carbon data, and elemental composition data from anaerobic digestate and biomass ash from UK bioenergy production. Anaerobic digestate was sampled 8 times from different industrial scale plants across the UK between January 2015 and January 2018 and biomass ash was sampled in January 2015 and June 2016. Anaerobic digestate was sourced from segregated food waste (mainly household waste), pig slurry, maize silage, vegetables waste, sweet corn waste, aerobically treated food waste, food manufacturer waste and other biodegradable sludge from within the UK. Biomass ash, both fly and bottom ash, from virgin and recycled wood was sourced from three sites within the UK and one from Spain. All laboratory analyses were undertaken at Lancaster University using standardised methods. The data were collected as part of the research grant, Developing a suite of novel land conditioners and plant fertilizers from the waste streams of biomass energy generation. The research was funded by NERC, award NE/L014122/1. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/990c54f6-5c92-4054-8bfa-953533a89149

Data from a field-based investigation into the spatio-temporal variability of abiotic and biotic controls on peatland carbon cycling. Data was collected between February 2011 and April 2013, across an area of blanket bog peatland at Black Law Wind Farm, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Plant-soil properties data includes total carbon content, total nitrogen content and carbon to nitrogen ratio of vegetation, litter and peat, carbon and nitrogen stock for litter and peat, bulk density, soil moisture content, pH and soil microbial community composition of peat (Phospholipid Fatty Acids). Peatland carbon cycling data includes measures of litter decomposition, dissolved organic carbon concentration, methane fluxes, net ecosystem exchange, photosynthesis and ecosystem respiration. Physical parameters measured includes below ground temperature from April 2011 to June 2012 and soil moisture content from May 2011 to April 2013. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/99416ba1-b670-4a82-8225-9644293fb4de