Online-only Table 1 Description of variables included in the Figshare “Maras monitoring plots” file and example of data included in the SC001 monitoring plot.
From: The MARAS dataset, vegetation and soil characteristics of dryland rangelands across Patagonia
Variable | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
Country | Country of monitoring plot | Argentina |
Province | Province of monitoring plot | Santa Cruz |
Database_monitor_code | Code of the monitoring plot in the database | 19 |
MARAS_number | Monitoring plot number | #SC-001 |
Site_Name | Name of the farm or site of installation | Potrok Aike |
Date | Date of set up/ reevaluation of monitoring plot | 17/10/2008 |
Assessment | Number of successive observations of this location 1= initial 2=first reassessment 3=second reassessment | 1 |
Period_days | Days from the initial observation to the current assessment (initial=0) | 0 |
Lat | Location of photographic pole (deg° min’ sec.dec” lat S) Datum Wgs84 | 51°55'21.6“S |
Long | Location of photographic pole (deg° min’ sec.dec” long W) Datum Wgs84 | 70°25'35.8“W |
Google_map_link | Google Earth hyperlink to location | Link |
Altitude_SRTM30_m | Elevation (meters above sea level) from SRTM_30 | 120 |
Stocking density_EE_ha_yr | 0.267 | |
Stocking density_AU_ha_yr | Domestic stock density in Ewe equivalents30 EE =500 kg Dry matter consumption | 0.042 |
Aridity_index_v2 | Global Aridity Index values v2: Aridity Index (AI) = MAP / MAE Where: MAP = Mean Annual Precipitation and MAE = Mean Annual Potential Evapotranspirationhttps://cgiarcsi.community/data/global-aridity-and-pet-database/ | 0.252 |
Departament | Department (Political division) | Güer Aike |
Landform | Landform according to Lopez et al. 2005 map37 | Glacial flatland |
Biozone | Biozone according to Bran et al. 2005 map20 | Dry Magellan Steppe |
MAP_mean_mm | Mean annual precipitation from Worlclimhttps://www.worldclim.org/data/index.html | 200 |
Temp_mean_C | Mean annual temperature Worldclim https://www.worldclim.org/data/index.html | 6.8 |
Vegetation_cover_% | Vegetation cover in point intercept line: 100- (bare soil % + rock % + litter % + standing dead% + cryptogam %) | 63 |
Richness_n_species | Number of species present at least in one point in the point quadrat line | 26 |
Shannon-Wiener | H´= ∑ p1* ln (pi) Where pi is relative cover of species i estimated as pi= number of points species 1 / total number of vegetation points. | 2.16 |
Rocks or stones_% | Number of strikes on rocks or stones>2 cm diameter in the point intercept line /500 in % | 0 |
Bare soil_% | Number of bare soil strikes in the point intercept line /500 in % | 15.8 |
Litter_% | Number of litter (dead plant material not attached to the plant) strikes in the point intercept line /500 in % | 4.8 |
Ephemerals_% | Number of Ephemeral (annual plant) strikes in the point intercept line /500 in % | 5.6 |
Standing dead_% | Number of standing dead (dead plant material still attached to mother plant) strikes in the point intercept line /500 in % | 4.8 |
Cryptogams_% | Number of cryptogam (non-vascular plants including mosses and lichens) strikes in the point intercept line /500 | 6 |
Patch_basal_cover_% | Sum of the longitudes of patches along the intercept line/ 5000 cm×100 (%) | 64.51 |
Interpatch_length_cm | Sum of longitudes of interpatches / number of interpatches (cm) | 39.4 |
Patch_length_cm | Mean length of patches (cm) | 70.1 |
Patch_width_cm | Sum of width of patches / number of patches (cm) | NA |
Patch_height_cm | Sum of height of patches / number of patches (cm) | 4.7 |
Number_patches_10m | Number of patches in the transect /5 | 9.2 |
Stability_LFA_index | The ability of soil to resist erosive forces. It is the sum of the indicators: Aerial soil cover (1–5) + Litter cover (1–5) + Cryptogam cover (0–4) + Soil erosion (1–4) + Deposited materials (1–4) + Presence/integrity of crusts (1–4) + Soil surface resistance (1–4) + Slake test (0–4) divided by maximum score (34) in % | 60.88 |
Infiltration_LFA_index | An estimate of proportion of rainfall that infiltrates the soil (and is therefore available for plants) in relation to superficial runoff. Calculated as the sum of scores: Basal cover of patches (1–7) + Micro topography (1–5) + Slake test (0–4) + Litter (cover, origin, incorporation) (1–20*) + Soil surface resistance (1–10**) + Texture (1–4) divided by the maximum score (50) in %. *Litter contributes to this index by multiplying the cover class value by the coefficients: Transported (T)=1, Local (L)=1.5, Low incorporation (L)=1, Moderate incorporation (M)=1.7, High incorporation (H)=2. Example: An LFA plot that has 10–25% litter, of local origin and moderately incorporated (registered as 2LM) would contribute 2×1.5×1.7=5.1 ** Infiltration is reduced in compact surfaces. In this index the original values for surface resistance were recoded Class=4 recoded 1, Class 3 recoded 3.3, Class 2 recoded 6.6, Class 1 recoded 10. | 51.63 |
Nutrient_recycling_LFA_index | Relates to the rate of decomposition of organic matter that enables nutrients to recycle in the soil. Calculated as the sum of scores for: Basal cover of patches (1–7) + Micro topography (1–5) + Cryptogam cover (0–4) + Litter (cover, origin, incorporation) (1–20*) *Litter contribution to this index is computed in the same way as the previous infiltration/runoff index. | 39.,37 |
Patch_lab_number | Number of laboratory soil sample | 65087 |
Patch_conductivity_dS/m | Conductivity of soil sample (dS/m) | 0.14 |
Patch_pH | pH: 1:2.5 (LS-PT-xx) | 6.4 |
Patch_Organic_Carbon_% | Organic carbon content (organic matter/1,724) | 1.13 |
Patch_Nitrogen_Kjeldahl_% | N content by modified Kjeldahl (LS-PT-13) in % | 0.13 |
Patch_Organic_matter_% | Organic matter by Walkley - Black (LS-PT-06) in % | 1.95 |
Patch_clay_<2μ_% | Patch Clay (% m/m) | 7.5 |
Patch_silt_2–50μ_% | Loam content (% m/m) 2–50μ Bouyoucos hydrometer (LS-PT-03) | 11.2 |
Patch_sand_50–2000μ_% | Sand content (% m/m) 50–2000μ Bouyoucos hydrometer (LS-PT-03) | 81.4 |
Interpatch_lab_number | Number of laboratory soil sample | 65201 |
Interpatch_conductivity_dS/m | Conductivity of soil sample (dS/m) | 0.33 |
Interpatch_pH | pH: 1:2,5 | 6.29 |
Interpatch_Organic_Carbon_% | Organic carbon content (organic matter/1,724) | 1.22 |
Interpatch_Nitrogen_Kjeldahl_% | N content Kjeldahl modified (LS-PT-13) | 0.1 |
Interpatch_Organic_matter_% | Organic matter Walkley - Black (LS-PT-06) | 2.1 |
Interpatch_clay_<2μ_% | Clay content (% m/m) < 2μ Bouyoucos hydrometer (LS-PT-03) | 7.5 |
Interpatch_silt_2–50μ_% | Silt content (% m/m) 2–50μ Bouyoucos hydrometer (LS-PT-03) | 14 |
Interpatch_sand_50–2000μ_% | Sand content (% m/m) 50–2000μ Bouyoucos hydrometer (LS-PT-03) | 77.8 |
