These data are associated with the manuscript "Cover crops influence soil arthropod communities, decomposition rates, and plant productivity in a subsequent cash crop". We compared soil arthropod communities in a cover crop polyculture, in monocultures of each of its four constituent species (flax, sunflower, spring pea, sweet clover), and a fallow control in a three-year replicated plot-scale study. We also compared the soil arthropod communities in a subsequent wheat crop to detect legacy effects. To assess the functional implications of cover crops, we measured arthropod-mediated decomposition using litterbags, and biomass and yield of the subsequent wheat crop. Soil arthropod community composition was unique under each cover crop treatment. The polyculture cover crop on average outperformed its constituent monocultures in the ability to promote soil arthropod biodiversity but did not always outperform the best performing individual monocultures. In the subsequent wheat crop, legacy effects of cover crops on soil arthropod community composition and function were similarly detected. Arthropod-mediated litter decomposition was greatest in soil following the polyculture cover crop. Yield of the subsequent wheat crop was also greater following the polyculture cover crop compared to two of its constituent monocultures. Across all treatments, arthropod biodiversity and arthropod-mediated decomposition rates were positively associated with yield in the subsequent wheat crop.

Data Use
License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY)
Recommended Citation
Elmquist DC, Sone BS, Strickland MS, Eigenbrode SD. 2023. Data from: Cover crops influence soil arthropod communities, decomposition rates, and plant productivity in a subsequent cash crop (Version 1.0) [dataset]. University of Idaho. https://doi.org/10.7923/pnze-z938

Funding
US Department of Agriculture-NIFA and Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program: 2019-38640-29880; Project: GW20-217
US Department of Agriculture-NIFA: 2022-67011-36633
US Department of Agriculture-NIFA: 2020-69012-31871
US Department of Agriculture-NIFA: 2022-67020-36110