DOI: 10.4121/6ad60e09-0c71-482d-9d4d-44a0353a3ee8.v1
title: Data for Sustainable intensification: time to question the goal of ever-increasing agricultural production

description: <br>## General<br>This project examines how land use intensity (LUI) affects soil multifunctionality in agricultural systems, with a focus on grasslands and croplands under conventional, organic and semi-natural management. Soil samples from 45 grasslands and 37 croplands were analysed alongside detailed information of farm management practices. The sites were distributed in the east of the Netherlands, within a restricted geographic area specifically by design to minimise influence of pedoclimatic conditions that vary broadly across larger spatial scales. Soil functions were quantified using the Soil Navigator Decision Support System, and LUI was calculated from 11 management indicators for grasslands and croplands separately.<br>## Description<br>- Management dataInformation on farm management practices were obtained from questionnairesDetailed information on the management practices applied on the fields were collected with two questionnaires, one for grasslands and one for cropland. For both grassland and cropland sites, general questions General information about the farm were collected, and more specific questions about the sampling fields were included about nitrogen and phosphorus mineral and organic fertilisation, liming, tillage, irrigation and pest control. Additional information relevant to either grasslands (plant species richness, density and type of grazing animals, number of harvests per season) and croplands (number of crop categories per field, number of crop species in rotation, number of years in grassland in rotation) were also included. Data are found in the file "Management_lab_env.csv" and details about variables are provided in the file "Code book for Management_lab_env.csv"<br>- Soil dataSoil analyses were performed after taking soil samples at each field. In each field, we used a 10 by 10 m square area for soil sampling. The top side of the square was oriented to the North. The square was located roughly in the centre of the field, staying at least 20 m from the field edges to avoid edge effects of management practices. The 10 by 10 m square was subdivided into 100 equally sized squares, numbered from 1 to 100. Six of those 100 were selected for soil sampling using a random number app generator. Three of the six squares (field measurements squares) were used for sampling earthworms and measure infiltration rates in the field. The other three squares were used to collect one sample with bulk density ring (50 mm diameter by 50 mm height), as well as four soil cores samples to a depth of 200 mm using an auger (100 mm diameter), that were all placed in a single bag to obtain one composite sample per field (composed of 4 x 3 cores). This composite sample was used for biological (fungal, bacterial and total microbial biomass, nematode abundance), physical (water holding capacity, texture) and chemical (total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), Melich extractable-phosphorus (P), total mineralisable N, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and pH) analyses. All samples were brought to the laboratory in the evening of each sampling day. Soil samples for nematode abundance and gravimetric water content analyses were stored at 4°C, and later analysed within 4 weeks of sampling. Within a few days (maximum 4 days), a subsample of that fridge-stored sample was sieved to &lt;2 mm and freeze-dried at -60°C for 2 days, and kept at -20°C for total microbial and fungal and bacterial biomass estimations. Soil samples for physical and chemical analyses were dried at 40°C for 72 hr and sieved to &lt;2 mm, and analysed within 8 weeks of sampling. For some analyses (e.g., total C and N), soils were grounded after sieving to &lt;2 mm.Data are found in the file "Management_lab_env.csv" and details about variables are provided in the file "Code book for Management_lab_env.csv"<br>- Environmental dataGeneral information about annual and seasonal precipitation and temperatures at the sampling sites were obtained from a single weather station (Hubsen, The Netherlands) central to the majority of the sites. Available on the website of the meteorological institute: https://daggegevens.knmi.nl/klimatologie/monv/reeksen.Depth of the grounwater table was obtained from governmental geological survey: https://www.dinoloket.nl/Altitude and slope were obtained from the Actueel Hoogtebetsand, an information service from the Dutch provinces: https://www.ahn.nlData are found in the file "Management_lab_env.csv" and details about variables are provided in the file "Code book for Management_lab_env.csv"<br>- Soil functions scoresScores for five main soil functions (Primary production, Water regulation, Nutrient Cycling, Habitat for biodiversity, Climate regulation) were obtained by entering the soil variables, management and environmental data into the soil navigator online: http://www.soilnavigator.eu/Data are found in the file "Scores.csv" and details about variables are provided in the file "Code book for Scores.csv"<br><br>