Mean values and their variances are reported. Standing crop values reflect treatment effects of removing biomass periodically, but the productivity levels show the inverse effects, suggesting plant compensatory growth mechanisms. Grazing intensity was defined as the amount of leaf area remaining following defoliation. The latter was manipulated experimentally by mowing at several heights. Grazing frequency was defined as the number of times foliage removal occurred in each year and included grazing and mowing history as well as current mowing frequency.
The data in this data set quantified the effects of foliage removal on plant net primary productivity (NPP), plant nutrient content and the effects of grazing pressure as simulated by mowing. Mean values and their variances are reported.
These data were collected to quantify the effects of grazing and nitrogen fertilization on primary productivity and plant chemistry.
Biomass production, plant nitrogen concentration, plant phosphorus concentration, total biomass.
The data in this data set quantified the effects of foliage removal on plant net primary productivity (NPP), plant nutrient content and the effects of grazing pressure as simulated by mowing.
Mean values and their variances are reported. Standing crop values reflect treatment effects of removing biomass periodically, but the productivity levels show the inverse effects, suggesting plant compensatory growth mechanisms.
MOW_BIOPHYS_DATA.
Dr. Tim R. Seastedt
University of Colorado
The Influence of Grazing on Land Surface Climatological Variables.
Contact 1:
Dr. Tim R. Seastedt
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO
(303) 492-3302
tims@culter.colorado.edu
Contact 2:
C. L. Turner
Kansas State Univ.
Manhattan, KS
(913) 532-7627
cturner@ksuvm.ksu.edu
The Mow Experiment Biophysical Measurements data were collected by T.R. Seastedt, C.L. Turner, and M. Dyer.
To evaluate the effects of frequency and intensity of defoliation on plant responses of native tallgrass prairie, grazing intensity was defined as the amount of leaf area remaining following defoliation. The latter was manipulated experimentally by mowing at several heights. Grazing frequency was defined as the number of times foliage removal occurred in each year and included grazing and mowing history as well as current mowing frequency.
Hand clipper, motorized grass mower and spectrophotometer.
Ground-based.
Ground.
Measure vegetation production and consumption.
Standing crop, production, nitrogen content, and phosphorus content of grasses and forbs.
Not available at this revision.
Not available at this revision.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The intensity and frequency experiments were done at one area close to but not on FIFE sites 6, 31, and 29 (SITEGRID 2123-MOW, 2139-MOW, and 0847-MOW). Both of these experiments were done in native tallgrass prairie. Both the frequency and intensity measurements were made within 10 meters of each other.
A detailed description of the plots, the quadrats and the sampling techniques used in these experiments is given in Turner et al. (1993).
Intensity experiment:
In 1987, a mowing intensity experiment was superimposed on 24, 10 x 5 m plots established in early 1985. Prior to the experimental treatments initiated in 1985, the site had not been grazed for 10 years. The site had been frequently burned in spring during this interval. The objective of these experiments was to estimate standing crop and the amount of foliage removal by mowing the plots. In 1987, these plots were used to create six replicates of the following mowing treatments: (1) unmowed (control), (2) mowed to 5 cm above ground level, (3) mowed to 10 cm, and (4) mowed to 20 cm. Mowing of the whole plots was conducted as needed to maintain vegetation at treatment heights, and all plots were mowed on each sampling date. Samples were obtained by hand clipping all vegetation within 0.1 square meter quadrats to ground level (for standing crop estimate) or above specified treatment heights (for use in production estimate), oven-drying to constant weight, and weighing. Samples were sorted into grass and non-grass components prior to drying.
A similar experiment was conducted in a planted brome field near site 2 (SITEGRID 1916-MOW, BROME). The experimental design was similar to the intensity experiment. Plots were mowed to the same heights as in the intensity experiments. Fertilizer was added to half of the plots. There were 3 replicates for the unfertilized plots at each of the 4 mowing heights (i.e., 5, 10, 20 cm and no mowing), and 3 replicates for the fertilized plots at each of the 4 moving heights. Each plot was treated with ammonium nitrate fertilizer at a rate of 10 [g N][m^2].
Frequency experiment:
In a separate mowing frequency experiment, also conducted in 1987, plots that had not been mowed or grazed for ten years were used. These plots were located adjacent to mowing intensity experiment plots and were burned on the same schedule as intensity experiment plots. The mowing frequency experiment consisted of 12, 10 x 5 m plots and 8, 10 x 10 m plots randomly assigned to create 5 replicates of the following mowing treatments: (1) unmowed (control), (2) mowed 1 time, (3) mowed 3 times, and (4) mowed 6 times during the growing season. All plots were mowed as close to the soil surface (approx. 2 cm) as possible. Above-ground standing crop was sampled by clipping at ground level in one 0.1 square m quadrat per plot just prior to mowing.
The procedure used to quantify the nitrogen and phosphorous content of plant samples is detailed in Turner et al. (1993).
Not available.
None.
The FIFE study area, with areal extent of 15 km by 15 km, is located south of the Tuttle Reservoir and Kansas River, and about 10 km from Manhattan, Kansas, USA. The northwest corner of the area has UTM coordinates of 4,334,000 Northing and 705,000 Easting in UTM Zone 14.
Below is a list of the FIFE sites that were mowed:
STN SITEGRID NORTHING EASTING LATITUDE
--- -------- -------- ------- --------
150 1916-MOW 4330296 708270 39 05 56
151 0847-MOW 4332377 714419 39 06 58
152 2139-MOW 4329843 712789 39 05 37
LONGITUDE ELEVATION COLOCATED
----------- ---------- ---------
-96 35 30 340 2,70,902
-96 31 12 415 29,52,829,929
-96 32 23 385 31
Not available.
Data were obtained within 0.1 square meter quadrats to ground level.
Not available.
Not available.
The overall time period of data acquisition was from May 7, 1987 through October 28, 1987 during the IFCs.
Below is a list of the 14 dates in which mow biophysical data was collected. The number of observations for each day is also given.
OBS_DATE NUM_OBS OBS_DATE NUM_OBS
--------- -------- --------- --------
07-MAY-87 5 11-AUG-87 5
26-MAY-87 5 18-AUG-87 5
16-JUN-87 6 31-AUG-87 6
24-JUN-87 5 14-SEP-87 5
08-JUL-87 5 05-OCT-87 5
17-JUL-87 5 27-OCT-87 3
07-AUG-87 3 28-OCT-87 6
Not available.
Usually 3 to 6 measurements were made per day. See the Temporal Coverage Section.
The SQL definition for this table is found in the MOW_BIOP.TDF file located on FIFE CD-ROM Volume 1.
Parameter/Variable Name
Parameter/Variable Description Range Units Source
SITEGRID_ID This is a FIS grid location code. FIS Site grid codes (SSEE-III) give the south (SS) and east (EE) cell number in a 100 x 100 array of 200 meter square cells. The last 3 characters (III) are an instrument identifier.
STATION_ID The station ID designating the 150, FIS location of the observations. 151, 152
OBS_DATE The date of the observations. min = 07-MAY-87, KSU max = 28-OCT-87
MOW_HEIGHT * If this record is from the mowing min = 0, TAPE height experiment, this column max = 20 MEASURE contains the mowed height of the vegetation in cm, otherwise this column is null.
MOW_FREQ ** If this record is from the mowing min = 0, KSU frequency experiment, the value is max = 6 for the number of times the site was mowed during the growing season, otherwise this column is null.
FERTILIZER If this column is from the brome F, KSU sites of the mowing height N experiment this column tells if the site was fertilized, F for fertilized, N for no fertilizer, otherwise this column is null.
NUM_OBS The number of experimental plots min = 3, KSU in sample. max = 6
MEAN_GRASS_BIOMASS The mean above ground grass min = 40.5, KSU biomass on the day of observation max = 570.8 in g/m2.
STD_ERR_GRASS_BIOMASS The standard error of the mean min = 4.11, KSU grass biomass on the day of max = 84.35 observation.
MEAN_FORB_BIOMASS The mean forb (non-grass, min = 0, KSU non-woody vegetation) above- max = 77.8 ground biomass on the day of observation in g/m2.
STD_ERR_FORB_BIOMASS The standard error of the mean min = 0, KSU forb biomass on the day of max = 26.23 observation.
MEAN_TOT_BIOMASS The mean total (grass + forb) min = 87.1, KSU above ground biomass on the max = 595.7 day of observation in g/m2.
STD_ERR_MEAN_TOT_BIOMASS The standard error of the mean min = 6.13, KSU total biomass on the day of max = 102.71 observation.
MEAN_GRASS_PROD The mean grass biomass produced min = 237.5, KSU since beginning of growing season max = 919 (standing crop + cumulative harvest) in g/m2.
STD_ERR_GRASS_PROD The standard error of the mean min = 5.45, KSU grass biomass produced since max = 84.35 beginning of growing season.
MEAN_FORB_PROD The mean forb (non-grass, min = 0, KSU non-woody vegetation) biomass max = 77.8 produced since beginning of growing season (standing crop + cumulative harvest) in g/m2.
STD_ERR_FORB_PROD The standard error of the mean min = 0, KSU forb (non-grass, non-woody max = 45.65 vegetation) biomass produced since beginning of growing season.
MEAN_TOT_PROD The mean total (grass + forb) min = 254.1, KSU biomass produced since beginning max = 962.6 of growing season (standing crop + cumulative harvest) in g/m2.
STD_ERR_MEAN_TOT_PROD The standard error of the mean min = 1.44, KSU total (grass + forb) biomass max = 102.71 produced since beginning of the growing season.
GRASS_N2_CONC The nitrogen concentration in min = 0.532, NITROGEN grasses as percent dry weight. max = 2.372 ANALYZER
STD_ERR_GRASS_N2_CONC The standard error of nitrogen min = 0.0277, KSU concentration in grasses. max = 0.1919
GRASS_PHOS_CONC The phosphorus concentration in min = 0.056, KSU grasses as percent dry weight. max = 0.271
STD_ERR_GRASS_PHOS_CONC The standard error of the min = 0.0084, KSU phosphorus concentration in max = 0.0405 grasses.
FIFE_DATA_CRTFCN_CODE *** The FIFE certification level of CPI=Checked FIS the data. by Principal Investigator
LAST_REVISION_DATE The date the data was last min = 12-JUL-90, FIS revised. max = 13-JUL-90
Footnotes:
* Mowing height treatment:
** Mowing frequency treatment:
*** Decode the FIFE_DATA_CRTFCN_CODE field as follows:
The primary certification codes are:
The certification code modifiers are:
SITEGRID_ID STATION_ID OBS_DATE MOW_HEIGHT MOW_FREQ FERTILIZER NUM_OBS
----------- ---------- --------- ---------- -------- ---------- -------
0847-MOW 151 16-JUN-87 6
0847-MOW 151 16-JUN-87 5 6
0847-MOW 151 16-JUN-87 10 6
0847-MOW 151 16-JUN-87 20 6
GRASS_BIOMASS_MEAN GRASS_BIOMASS_ST_ERR FORB_BIOMASS_MEAN
------------------ -------------------- -----------------
237.50 32.710 16.60
78.50 6.580 8.60
160.70 29.530 26.20
203.80 21.000 27.60
FORB_BIOMASS_ST_ERR TOTAL_BIOMASS_MEAN TOTAL_BIOMASS_ST_ERR
------------------- ------------------ --------------------
6.460 254.10 34.860
2.440 87.10 6.130
17.120 187.00 21.870
10.710 231.40 17.750
GRASS_PRODCTN_MEAN GRASS_PRODCTN_ST_ERR FORB_PRODCTN_MEAN
------------------ -------------------- -----------------
237.50 32.710 16.60
252.40 21.050 38.90
271.90 36.180 44.80
263.70 39.680 73.40
FORB_PRODCTN_ST_ERR TOTAL_PRODCTN_MEAN TOTAL_PRODCTN_ST_ERR GRASS_N2_CONC
------------------- ------------------ -------------------- -------------
6.460 254.10 34.860
15.090 291.40 29.810
25.340 316.70 25.730
36.880 337.10 68.100
GRASS_N2_CONC_ST_ERR GRASS_PHOS_CONC GRASS_PHOS_CONC_ST_ERR
-------------------- --------------- ----------------------
FIFE_DATA_CRTFCN_CODE LAST_REVISION_DATE
--------------------- ------------------
CPI 12-JUL-90
CPI 12-JUL-90
CPI 12-JUL-90
The overall time period of data acquisition was from May 7, 1987 through October 28, 1987 during the IFCs. Data were collected within 0.1 square meter quadrats to ground level. Samples were obtained by hand clipping all vegetation within 0.1 square meter quadrats to ground level (for standing crop estimate) or above specified treatment heights (for use in production estimate), oven-drying to constant weight, and weighing.
A general description of data granularity as it applies to the IMS appears in the EOSDIS Glossary.
The CD-ROM file format consists of numerical and character fields of varying length separated by commas. The character fields are enclosed with a single apostrophe. There are no spaces between the fields. Each file begins with five header records. Header records contain the following information:
Each field represents one of the attributes listed in the chart in the Data Characteristics Section and described in detail in the TDF file. These fields are in the same order as in the chart.
Total weight is the sum of grass and non-grass dry weight for a date and site. Cumulative above-ground biomass production was calculated for each plot by summing the estimates of biomass removed by previous mowing and the current standing crop at each date.
Mass of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) incorporated into above-ground tissues was estimated by multiplying percent concentration and biomass.
Not available at this revision.
None.
None.
None.
Not available at this revision.
Not available at this revision.
The investigator places a high degree of confidence in the accuracy of these data.
Standard errors were calculated for the variables, see the Data Characteristics Section for the ranges obtained.
FIS staff applied a general Quality Assessment (QA) procedure to the data to identify inconsistencies and problems for potential users. As a general procedure, the FIS QA consisted of examining the maximum, minimum, average, and standard deviation for each numerical field in the data table. An attempt was made to find an explanation for unexpected high or low values, values outside of the normal physical range for a variable, or standard deviations that appeared inconsistent with the mean. In some cases, histograms were examined to determine whether outliers were consistent with the shape of the data distribution.
The discrepancies, which were identified, are reported as problems in the Known Problems with the Data Section.
The data verification performed by the ORNL DAAC deals with the quality of the data format, media, and readability. The ORNL DAAC does not make an assessment of the quality of the data itself except during the course of performing other QA procedures as described below.
The FIFE data were transferred to the ORNL DAAC via CD-ROM. These CD-ROMs are distributed by the ORNL DAAC unmodified as a set or in individual volumes, as requested. In addition, the DAAC has incorporated each of the 98 FIFE tabular datasets from the CD-ROMs into its online data holdings. Incorporation of these data involved the following steps:
Each distinct type of data (i.e. "data set" on the CD-ROM), is accompanied by a documentation file (i.e., .doc file) and a data format/structure definition file (i.e., .tdf file). The data format files on the CD-ROM are Oracle SQL commands (e.g., "create table") that can be used to set up a relational database table structure. This file provides column/variable names, character/numeric type, length, and format, and labels/comments. These SQL commands were converted to SAS code and were used to create SAS data sets and subsequently to input data files directly from the CD-ROM into a SAS dataset. During this process, file names and directory paths were captured and metadata was extracted to the extent possible electronically. No files were found to be corrupted or unreadable during the conversion process.
Additional Quality Assurance procedures were performed as follows:
As errors are discovered in the online tabular data by investigators, users, or DAAC staff, corrections are made in cooperation with the principal investigators. These corrections are then distributed to users. CD-ROM data are corrected when re-mastering occurs for replenishment of CD-ROM stock.
Not available.
None known at this revision.
Not available at this revision.
The Exotech Surface Reflectances for the Mowing Experiment data (on FIFE CD-ROM Volume 1) were collected as a companion data set to the data described here. The sampling interval for these exotech data was more frequent than the mowing data. On some occasions the exotech was run the day before, the day of, and the day after the mowing of the plots. The Root Biomass data were also collected as a companion data set.
The data in this data set can be used to quantify the effects of foliage removal on plant net primary productivity (NPP), plant nutrient content and the effects of grazing pressure.
The FIFE field campaigns were held in 1987 and 1989 and there are no plans for new data collection. Field work continues near the FIFE site at the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network Konza research site (i.e., LTER continues to monitor the site). The FIFE investigators are continuing to analyze and model the FIFE data from the field campaigns to produce new data products.
Software to access the data set is available on the all volumes of the FIFE CD-ROM set. For a detailed description of the available software see the Software Description Document.
ORNL DAAC User Services
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Telephone: (865) 241-3952
FAX: (865) 574-4665
Email: ornldaac@ornl.gov
ORNL Distributed Active Archive Center
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
USA
Telephone: (865) 241-3952
FAX: (865) 574-4665
Email: ornldaac@ornl.gov
Users may place requests by telephone, electronic mail, or FAX. Data is also available via the World Wide Web at http://daac.ornl.gov.
The Mowing Experiment Biophysical Measurements are available on the FIFE CD-ROM Volume 1. The CD-ROM filename is as follows:
\DATA\BIOLOGY\MOW_BIOP\1987grid.MBP
Note: capital letters indicate fixed values that appear on the CD-ROM exactly as shown here, lower case indicates characters (values) that change for each path and file.
The format used for the filenames is: 1987grid.sfx, where grid is the four number code for the location within the FIFE site grid. The filename extension (.sfx), identifies the data set content for the file (see the Data Characteristics Section) and is equal to .MBP for this data set.
Nelson, D.W., and L.E. Sommers. 1980. Total nitrogen analysis of soil and plant tissues. J. of the Assoc. of Official Analytical Chemists. 63:770-778.
Dyer, M.I., C.L. Turner, and T.R. Seastedt. 1991. Influence of mowing and fertilization on productivity and spectral reflectance in Bromus inermis plots. Ecol. Appl. 1:443-452.
Gibson, D.J. 1988. Regeneration and fluctuation of tallgrass prairie vegetation in response to burning frequency. Bull. of the Torrey Botanical Club. 115:1-12.
Schimel, D.S., T.G.F. Kittel, A.K. Knapp, T.R. Seastedt, W.J. Parton, and V.B. Brown. 1991. Physiological interactions along resource gradients in tallgrass prairie. Ecology. 72:672-684.
Seastedt, T.R., J.M. Briggs, and D.J. Gibson. 1991. Control of nitrogen limitation in tallgrass prairie. Oecologia. 87:72-79.
Sellers, P.J., F.G. Hall, G. Asrar, D.E. Strebel, and R.E. Murphy. 1988. The First ISLSCP Field Experiment (FIFE). Bull. of the Am. Meteorological Soc. 69:22-27.
Turner, C.L., T.R. Seastedt, M.I. Dyer, T.G.F. Kittel, and D.S. Schimel. 1992. Effects of Management and Topography on the Radiometric Response of a Tallgrass Prairie. J. Geop. Res. 97:D17:18,855-18,866.
Turner, C.L., T.R. Seastedt, and M.I. Dyer. 1993. Maximization of above-ground grassland production: The role of defoliation frequency, intensity and history. Ecological Applications. 3(1):175-186.
Contact the EOS Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, Tennessee (see the Data Center Identification Section). Documentation about using the archive and/or online access to the data at the ORNL DAAC is not available at this revision.
A general glossary for the DAAC is located at Glossary.
A general list of acronyms for the DAAC is available at Acronyms.
May 6, 1994 (citation revised on October 14, 2002).
Warning: This document has not been checked for technical or editorial accuracy by the FIFE Information Scientist. There may be inconsistencies with other documents, technical or editorial errors that were inadvertently introduced when the document was compiled or references to preliminary data that were not included on the final CD-ROM.
Previous versions of this document have been reviewed by the Principal Investigator, the person who transmitted the data to FIS, a FIS staff member, or a FIFE scientist generally familiar with the data.
Seastedt, T. R. 1994. Mowing Experiment Biophys[ical]. Data (FIFE). Data set. Available on-line [http://www.daac.ornl.gov] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A. Also published in D. E. Strebel, D. R. Landis, K. F. Huemmrich, and B. W. Meeson (eds.), Collected Data of the First ISLSCP Field Experiment, Vol. 1: Surface Observations and Non-Image Data Sets. CD-ROM. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A. (available from http://www.daac.ornl.gov).