Soil physical analyses of all 27 comparative study plots. Mass-% of 8 grain size classes of fine earth < 2 mm from soil horizons of each soil profile per CSP. Grain sizes discriminate between sand, silt, and clay.

Pitfall traps (four traps per plot, located at the corners of the central 10 x 10 m subplot) were used to assess the activity abundance and species richness of Formicidae in relation to the plots' woody plant diversity. The data allow to test to w...

Biomass is a proxy for assessing herb layer productivity. In contrast to most traits it is easy practicable and therefore feasible repeatedly. Since the proportion of functional groups is informative for community structure biomass was harvested s...

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Rain was captured in open field and in vegetated conditions parallel to measurements in the Comparative study plots (CSPs). Throughfall as well as sandloss from splashcups can be used to derive kinetic energy from raindrops.

1. Afforestations are globally increasing to produce timber and pulp wood, and to enhance carbon sequestration aiming at the mitigation of CO2 emissions. Large areas have been and will be afforested, particularly in China, in order to compensate f...