Data from: Grazing Effects on Nitrous Oxide Flux in an Integrated Crop-Livestock System

Integrated crop-livestock (ICL) systems represent a promising approach to sustainably intensify agricultural production. However, the inherent complexity of ICL systems contributes to potential tradeoffs among production, economic, and environmental attributes. Among the many important environmental metrics associated with agricultural production, nitrous oxide (N2O) flux from soil is prominent for its dual role as a strong greenhouse gas and its capacity to deplete ozone in the stratosphere. Unfortunately, there is limited understanding of ICL system effects on N2O flux from soil, especially in North America. Given this context, soil-atmosphere N2O flux was measured from ICL and non-ICL practices over a 3-year period near Mandan, ND USA. Evaluated treatments included grazed and ungrazed cropland and grassland, each replicated four times. Measurements of N2O flux were made using static chamber methodology 93 times over the study period (14 Oct 2016 – 16 Oct 2019). Near-surface soil water content and temperature were measured concurrently with N2O flux when the soil was not frozen. Seasonal measurements of soil bulk density, soil pH, and extractable nitrate-N and ammonium-N were evaluated in all treatments each year. Data may be used to understand N2O flux and soil property dynamics in ICL production systems. Data are generally applicable to cropland under a semiarid Continental climate for the following soil types: Grassna, Linton, Mandan, Temvik, Williams, and Wilton.