The soil microbialbiomass CN data from tracer NILEx 2012, data include all the tracer nilex time points. Soil microbial bimass carbon and nitrogen content were determined by the chloroform fumigation extraction method. Two sets of soil samples (approximately 25g fresh soil) for both fumigated (chloroform fugation) or unfumigated, extracting with 0.5 M K2SO4 . The difference between carbon or nitrogen in the fumigated and non-fumigated samples is the chloroform-labile C or N pool, and then was calculated to the microbial biomass carbon or niteogen by proportional equation.

Sampling description (e.g. sampling design) Sampling process was cooperating with leaf litter decomposition group. The soil beneath the litter laid was taken by soil core (0-10cm soil depth) directly after the leaf litter decomposition group collected the litter residues from the designated mesocosms. Soil were then sieved with 2mm mesh and kept cool before stored in the fridge.

Study site, locations NILEx field site, near site A, Xingangshan

Range of times description: Samples were taken in 2012 April, May, July, and Octorber. Analyses were done within one week after the sampling campaign

Range of organisms or individuals Soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen

Data analysis (What were the parameters of interest and how will they be calculated? What are the expected conclusions and how will effect sizes or significances be quantified?) Microbial carbon and nitrogen was calculated as umol/L