A dataset of litter decomposition residual mass and nutrient concentrations under nitrogen and phosphorus addition in subtropical plantations (2016–2019)

Abstract

The increase in atmospheric nutrient deposition resulted from human activities and changes of natural factors have a dramatically influence on the ecosystem nutrient cycling. The subtropical plantations in the South of China account for more than 40% of the national plantation area, which have become the central zone of nutrient deposition. Therefore, the scientific understanding of nutrient cycling process in plantations is the basis of coping with global climate changes and ensuring the construction of national ecological civilization. According to the unified specification of Chinese Ecosystem Research Network, and on the basis of the long-term observation of the field plots of Qianyanzhou Ecological Research Station, Jiangxi (referred to as Qianyanzhou Station), we integrated residual mass and nutrient concentrations of leaf and absorptive roots of Pinus massoniana and Schima superba plantations under different treatments (control, lower nitrogen addition, higher nitrogen addition, phosphorus addition, adding both higher nitrogen and phosphorus) from 2016 to 2019. The production and sharing of this dataset can help to provide basic data support for the dynamic study of litter decomposition as well as for the stock of soil carbon pool under the background of global changes. Additionally, it can promote the sustainable development of subtropical plantations.