Variables Description################ *patchLabel_BETAFOR: unique BETA-FOR patch label *patch: patch number *Subpatch: ID of subpatch located on the patch *Substrate_type: type of sample used *mesh_width: width of the net of the litter bag *start_date: start date of exposure of the sample to patch conditions *weight_start: weight of sample at the start of the exposure *end_date: end date of exposure of the sample to patch conditions *weight_end: weight of sample at the end of the exposure *exposure_time: number of days the samples were exposed to patch conditions *decomposition_rate_day: ((weight_start_dry - weight_end_dry )/ weight_start_dry)/exposure_time *decomposition_rate: (weight_start_dry - weight_end_dry )/ weight_start_dry *data_collector: person collecting the data and supervising field work teams

This dataset contains decomposition rates of beech litter on all BETA-FOR patches. Four litter bags with a mesh width of 5 mm were placed on each patch. Each bag was placed on a seperate subpatch directly next to a TOMST logger.