Data: Forage quality and biomass yield of the Management Experiment set up within the Jena Experiment

Abstract

This dataset contains measurements of above ground biomass yield and various forage quality variables of the subplots of the Management Experiment set up within the Main Experiment plots of a large grassland biodiversity experiment (the Jena Experiment; Roscher et al. 2004, Weigelt et al. 2009). In the main experiment, 82 grassland plots of 20 x 20 m were established from a pool of 60 species belonging to four functional groups (grasses, legumes, tall and small herbs). In May 2002, varying numbers of plant species from this species pool were sown into the plots to create different plant diversity levels (1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 60 species) and a functional group gradient (including 1, 2, 3 and 4 functional groups). In 2006, five different management intensities were introduced on subplot level. The management intensities varied in fertilization levels and/or cutting frequencies (Weigelt et al. 2009). In 2007, various forage quality variables (metabolizable energy content, milk production potential, crude protein content, utilizable crude protein content, organic matter content, neutral detergent fiber content) of aboveground biomass yield were measured or estimated for all management intensities.