Biogeochemical and edaphic data from burned peat soil on the Stalybridge estate (UK), October 2018

Abstract

This dataset contains biogeochemical and edaphic information from burned peat soil on the Stalybridge estate located near Manchester (UK), commonly referred to as Saddleworth moor. This study was conducted after a wildfire fire on the Saddleworth moor in June 2018. The sample plots included areas with deep and shallow peat burn. The data includes geographical information (location, elevation and slope), soil temperature and soil chemical composition (carbon, nitrogen and 22 other elements). The dataset is the result of research funded by a NERC Urgency grant entitled 'RECOUP-Moor: Restoring Ecosystem CarbOn Uptake of Post-fire Moorland' (NE/S011943/1, led by Dr. Bjorn Robroek of the University of Southampton (now Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands).,We established 10 plots in October 2018 at the post-fire site. Each plot was 10 m x 10 m in size. We identified 5 of these plots as suffering a less severe (shallow) burn. The other 5 plots were in areas where a more severe (deep) burn was identified. In all plots the surface vegetation had been removed by the fire exposing the bare peat. We determined the geographical properties of each plot. This included their geographical location, elevation and slope. We also measured soil temperature at each location at multiple time points over the following 24 months. On July 23rd 2019 we extracted small peat samples from the surface of each plot. Each sample was 5 cm x 5 cm in diameter and 2 cm in depth. The samples were homogenized and kept at c. 5oC until further analysis was completed to determine their chemical composition. In preparation for the chemical analysis of each sample we dried the peat at 70 oC for 72 hours. This was then crushed forming a fine homogenous powder. To determine the carbon and nitrogen content of each sample we extracted three sub-samples of the fine peat powder. Each sample was then combusted at 1800 oC and the percentage of carbon and nitrogen released was quantified. This was performed using a Vario Micro Cube (Elementar). For each plot, the content of each sub-sample was compared to ensure that the observed values were consistent, and the samples were homogenous. An average of the three sub-samples was then taken to provide one value per plot. To determine the composition of other elements within the samples, we extracted two sub-samples from each plot sample and performed Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass-Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis on each of the sub-samples. This was used to determine the relative composition of 22 elements. For each plot, an average of the two sub-samples was taken.,

We established 10 plots in October 2018 at the post-fire site. Each plot was 10 m x 10 m in size. We identified 5 of these plots as suffering a less severe (shallow) burn. The other 5 plots were in areas where a more severe (deep) burn was identified. In all plots the surface vegetation had been removed by the fire exposing the bare peat. We determined the geographical properties of each plot. This included their geographical location, elevation and slope. We also measured soil temperature at each location at multiple time points over the following 24 months.

On July 23rd 2019 we extracted small peat samples from the surface of each plot. Each sample was 5 cm x 5 cm in diameter and 2 cm in depth. The samples were homogenized and kept at c. 5oC until further analysis was completed to determine their chemical composition. In preparation for the chemical analysis of each sample we dried the peat at 70 oC for 72 hours. This was then crushed forming a fine homogenous powder.

To determine the carbon and nitrogen content of each sample we extracted three sub-samples of the fine peat powder. Each sample was then combusted at 1800 oC and the percentage of carbon and nitrogen released was quantified. This was performed using a Vario Micro Cube (Elementar). For each plot, the content of each sub-sample was compared to ensure that the observed values were consistent, and the samples were homogenous. An average of the three sub-samples was then taken to provide one value per plot.

To determine the composition of other elements within the samples, we extracted two sub-samples from each plot sample and performed Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass-Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis on each of the sub-samples. This was used to determine the relative composition of 22 elements. For each plot, an average of the two sub-samples was taken.